The 2022 NFL Pro Bowl teams were announced Wednesday night, and four Detroit Lions were named as alternates.
The 2022 NFL Pro Bowl teams were announced on Wednesday night. The 2-11-1 Detroit Lions don’t have any voted-in starters on the NFC team, as certainly expected, but four players have been named as Pro Bowl alternates. The Lions are one of six teams who does not have a Pro Bowler on the initial rosters.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson was named to his first Pro Bowl last year. He led the Lions in receptions (61), receiving yards (583) and touchdowns (four) before a hand injury and subsequent surgery ended his season after 12 games. At the time of his injury (through Week 13), he was top-10 among NFL tight ends in catches, targets (84; fourth), yards (eighth) and touchdowns (tied for 10th).
Left guard Jonah Jackson had played every offensive snap for the Lions this season until he missed Week 15 with a back injury. He has helped a Detroit rushing attack that is the franchise’s most productive in a long time (over 1,500 yards on 4.5 yards per carry through 14 games for the first time since 1998). Jackson has been credited with allowing just four sacks all season.
Fullback Jason Cabinda is the Lions’ 2021 nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. A converted linebacker, he scored the first touchdown of his career against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15. He is tied for third on the team with seven special teams tackles this season.
Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin has been a key special teamer for the Lions for a few years now. This season, in 12 games, he has already clearly set his career-high for defensive snaps (430), with a total of 41 solo tackles, three passes defensed and two tackles for loss. He is leading the Lions with 10 special teams tackles.
Hockenson is a first alternate, but his surgery recovery will keep him out of the Pro Bowl were he called on. Jackson is a second alternate, while Cabinda is a third alternate and Reeves-Maybin is a fifth alternate for special teams.
One Lion who can be marked as a Pro Bowl snub (nowhere to be seen even among a litany of alternates) is cornerback Amani Oruwariye. He is third in the NFL in interceptions so far this season with six, as he has put together a breakout season. Rookie offensive tackle Penei Sewell was also not even tabbed as an alternate.
The 2022 Pro Bowl will take place in Las Vegas on Feb. 6.
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