Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow will have company at the Pro Bowl this week.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and right tackle Penei Sewell were named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster Monday. St. Brown replaces Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, while Sewell takes the place of Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson.
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Both players were the first alternate at their positions.
Neither Brown nor Johnson can play in the game with the Eagles in the Super Bowl. The Eagles beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game Sunday.
St. Brown led the Lions with career-highs of 106 catches and 1,161 yards this season despite missing time with ankle and brain injuries. Sewell was one of two Lions to play every offensive snap, along with left tackle Taylor Decker.
Members of the Lions’ stellar 2021 draft class, St. Brown, a fourth-round pick in the draft, and Sewell, the No. 7 overall pick, will be making their first Pro Bowl appearance.
The NFL changed the Pro Bowl format this season, doing away with the traditional game in favor of a skills competition. Players will take part in a series of events Thursday and Sunday in Las Vegas, including flag football, dodgeball, a water balloon toss and longest drive golf contest.
Ragnow was named to his second Pro Bowl in December. He also went two years ago, the last time the Lions had three players picked for the game (Jack Fox, T.J. Hockenson).
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.