The 2022 AP All-Pro team is out, and Kalif Raymond is the only Detroit Lions player to make it.
On Friday, the Associated Press announced its NFL first and second team All-Pro squads for 2022. The Detroit Lions were almost completely snubbed, with only wide receiver Kalif Raymond earning second team honors for his work as a punt returner this year.
Raymond averaged 13.2 yards per punt return this season, second-best in the league. In Week 15 against the New York Jets, the team that cut him in 2017, he had a full circle moment with the first punt return touchdown of his career.
Raymond also finished second on the Lions this year with 616 receiving yards, and third in catches with 47. He had a crucial catch on a deep ball in Week 18 against the Packers, while playing the second half with broken ribs.
Kalif Raymond a worthy All-Pro, others Lions snubbed
Lions right tackle Penei Sewell finished third among right tackles in the AP All-Pro voting, falling narrrowly behind Buccaneers’ right tackle Tristan Wirfs for second-team honors. Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles was the first-team right tackle.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown finished seventh in the voting at his position, with the top six being honored. It’s hard to quarrel too much with the six who came in above St. Brown coming in above him.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota, 150 (50); Tyreek Hill, Miami, 144 (47); Davante Adams, Las Vegas, 100, (26); A.J. Brown, Philadelphia, 76 (13); Stefon Diggs, Buffalo, 74 (13); CeeDee Lamb, Dallas, 28; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit, 11 (1); Jaylen Waddle, Miami, 10; Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati, 7.
Lions center Frank Ragnow came in a fairly distant third among centers, behind Jason Kelce (first team) and Creed Humphrey (second team).
No Lion earned an AP All-Pro selection last year, and no one even got a vote. So this is progress in that respect. Sewell, St. Brown and Ragnow each got at least one first-place vote, for what it’s worth.