Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been named a replacement on the AFC's Pro Bowl Games roster, stepping in due to a wave of unavailability among other top quarterbacks.
Shedeur Sanders, the rookie quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, has been selected as a replacement on the AFC's roster for the upcoming Pro Bowl Games, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press. This selection comes as the NFL has yet to officially announce the roster changes, with Yahoo Sports being the first to report Sanders' addition. Sanders, a fifth-round pick, played in eight games and started the Browns’ final seven, achieving a 3-4 record. He finished the season with a 56.6% completion rate, a 68.1 passer rating, 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. His unexpected inclusion stems from numerous other AFC quarterbacks being unable to participate. New England’s Drake Maye is unavailable due to the Patriots advancing to the Super Bowl, while Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and Josh Allen of Buffalo are dealing with injuries sustained at the end of their seasons. Other injured AFC quarterbacks include Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City), Daniel Jones (Indianapolis), and Bo Nix (Denver), all of whom suffered season-ending injuries. Additionally, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, one of the top alternates, chose not to play in the event. Sanders was not initially selected as one of the four alternate quarterbacks when the rosters were first announced on December 23. The challenge of finding players to fill Pro Bowl rosters due to injuries has increased since the NFL transitioned from a full-contact all-star game to a weeklong skills competition and flag football game beginning in the 2022 season. The Pro Bowl Games are scheduled to take place in San Francisco ahead of the Super Bowl, with Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (NFC) and Steve Young (AFC) coaching the flag football showdown on February 3.
