Alabama produces 12th Pro Bowler for 2022 NFL season
Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne joined the NFC roster for the Pro Bowl Games on Thursday.
The former Shades Valley High School and Alabama player is the first injured substitute for this season’s All-Star event.
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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald will not be able to participate. Donald has missed the last six games of Los Angeles’ schedule with an ankle injury.
Payne becomes the 12th former Crimson Tide player selected for the Pro Bowl Games this season. The others are:
Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen
Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs
Pittsburgh Steelers release safety Minkah Fitzpatrick
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs
New York Jets center linebacker CJ Mosley
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II
New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams
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The selection is the first for Payne.
For Dickerson, Hurts, Surtain and Williams, the Pro Bowl selection is also the first of their careers. Mosley has now been selected to the Pro Bowl five times, Fitzpatrick, Henry and Humphrey three times each and Allen, Diggs and Jacobs twice each.
In his fifth season in the NFL, Payne reached career highs with 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits and five pass breakups in 2022.
Payne has led NFL inside defensive linemen in tackles for loss and NFC inside defensive linemen in sacks this season.
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In September, the NFL eliminated Pro Bowl play and replaced it with the Pro Bowl Games, a skills competition and flag football contest for selected players. But the honor of the Pro Bowl stars remains.
Choices made by fans, players, and coaches counted one-third each in determining Pro Bowl Games rosters for AFC and NFC teams.
The 7-on-7 flag football game featuring Pro Bowl players will be held Feb. 5 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the culmination of a multi-day competition between the AFC and NFC in which all stars will demonstrate their football and non-football skills in a variety of competitions.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.