The replacements for Sunday’s Pro Bowl are coming fast and furious, a result of attrition following the AFC and NFC championship games.
The Pro Bowl didn’t just lose players from the Super Bowl-bound Broncos and Seahawks but from the Patriots and 49ers, as well.
New England quarterback Tom Brady bowed out and will be replaced by Kansas City’s Alex Smith, giving the Chiefs 10 players in the game.
Another Chiefs star added Monday was linebacker Derrick Johnson, who will replace 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman. Bowman tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee during Sunday’s NFC championship loss at Seattle. Another 49er, Justin Smith, will be replaced by Buffalo’s Marcell Dareus.
Leading the replacements will be Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who takes the place of Seattle’s Russell Wilson.
It is the second consecutive selection to the NFL’s all-star game for Luck, who will join teammates Robert Mathis and Matt Overton in Sunday’s game. Wilson will be playing in the Super Bowl a week later.
This season, Luck completed 343 of 570 passes (60.2 percent) for 3,822 yards, 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions for an 87.0 passer rating. In two postseason games, Luck threw for 774 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions; in the wild-card win over Kansas City, he led the Colts to the second-largest comeback in NFL postseason history after trailing by 28 points in the second half.
The Super Bowl additions don’t end there. Denver has a number of replacements lined up, starting with tight end Julius Thomas. With Thomas out, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten was named as the late replacement for the Pro Bowl roster.
Witten recorded 73 catches for 851 yards and eight touchdowns this season. This will be the ninth Pro Bowl appearance for Witten, who joins wide receiver Dez Bryant, left tackle Tyron Smith and defensive tackle Jason Hatcher as the Cowboys who are representing the team in Hawaii.
Denver wideout Demaryius Thomas is being replaced by Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The 30-year-old Fitzgerald caught 82 passes for 954 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
New England Patriots place-kicker Stephen Gostkowski is also a replacement, for Broncos kicker Matt Prater. Gostkowski made the Pro Bowl in 2008. This season, he hit 38 of 41 field goals (35 of 38 in the regular season), booted 65 touchbacks and hit pressure-packed kicks in close victories over the Bills, Texans, Jets, Dolphins, Broncos and Browns.
Chicago cornerback Tim Jennings is stepping in for Seattle’s Richard Sherman, who is also headed to the Super Bowl. The 29-year-old has started 58 regular-season games for the Bears, intercepting 16 passes. Prior to signing with Chicago, he spent four years with the Colts. This is his second Pro Bowl appearance.
New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle, who was unhappy at being passed over in the original selection process, is headed this way as well. He is replacing Seattle strong safety Earl Thomas. Rolle earns a $100,000 bonus for making the Pro Bowl team. He is the only Giant in this week’s game.
Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch is being replaced by Washington’s Alfred Morris. Last week, Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy learned he is taking the spot of injured running back Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings.
One 49er who is coming is linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who is scheduled to fly to Hawaii today, though the 49ers didn’t yet know whether other selected players planned to attend or pull out of the game.
This will be Johnson’s third straight Pro Bowl, and comes after one of the finest seasons of his nine-year career. He had 110 tackles, 41/2 sacks and two interceptions.
He’ll be joined in Hawaii by Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert, safety Eric Berry, running back Jamaal Charles, cornerback Brandon Flowers, defensive tackle Dontari Poe, punt returner Dexter McCluster and linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston and Smith.
Charles is among four player captains picked for the game.
Browns safety T.J. Ward was added Monday, giving Cleveland six players at this year’s game.
Ward was selected as an alternate and will replace Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, who is unable to participate because of an injury.
Ward had a solid fourth pro season and is eligible for free agency in March. He started all 16 games and finished with a career-high 129 tackles.
The Pro Bowl is this Sunday with a local kickoff time of 2 p.m.
