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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams (71), inside linebacker London Fletcher (59), special teamer Lorenzo Alexander (97) and outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (91) pose witmodels during NFC team photos at the NFL Football Pro Bowl in Kapolei, Hawaii, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams was injured in an early-morning altercation in Honolulu on Friday and will not play in Sunday’s Pro Bowl, an NFL spokesperson confirmed Friday evening.
“Trent Williams was the victim of an assault at a night club in central Honolulu early Friday morning and another individual has been arrested,” the spokesman said.
Because of the injury suffered during the assault, he was replaced by Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Matt Kalil. Williams is still a member of this year’s NFC All-Star team and will be on the sidelines this Sunday wearing his jersey. The NFL said he will be credited with a Pro Bowl appearance and receive a full player’s share.
The assault was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter who said Williams was tasered and received a head injury requiring stitches.
In a statement, the Honolulu Police Department said, “At 1:30 a.m., Honolulu Police Department officers responded to a report of a large affray at a nightclub in central Honolulu. Three males were injured during the affray. Two were treated and released from the hospital, and the third male declined treatment. One male was arrested for assault in the third degree and additional arrests are likely.”
Williams’ Redskins teammate Jammal Brown said on Twitter that Williams needed seven stitches. Brown said the fight wasn’t Williams’ fault and he did nothing wrong.
The Pro Bowl appearance is marking something of a personal comeback for Williams, who was suspended four games in 2011 for testing positive multiple times for marijuana.
The 24-year-old former first-round pick in 2009 owned up to his mistake and worked to rebuild his reputation. He was elected a team captain on offense this season.
Minnesota Vikings rookie left tackle Matt Kalil was added to the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster Friday to replace Williams.
Kalil was the fourth overall draft pick last April and immediately established himself as a top player at one of the game’s most important positions. He helped pave the way for Adrian Peterson to rush for 2,000 yards and usually faced the opponent’s top pass rusher as the protector for Christian Ponder’s blind side.
He is the fourth Vikings rookie to make the Pro Bowl since 2007 and will join teammates Peterson, Jared Allen, Jerome Felton, Chad Greenway, Kyle Rudolph and Blair Walsh on this year’s NFC team.
The Pro Bowl will be played Sunday at 2 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
