Fullback Kyle Juszczyk won't be the lone member of the San Francisco 49ers to play in the 2018 Pro Bowl after all. Veteran tackle Joe Staley will be joining him.
On Monday morning, the 49ers announced Staley being named to the Pro Bowl, saying that he is replacing Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith, who is unable to participate due to injury. Of course, Staley can also thank the Philadelphia Eagles, who had tackle Lane Johnson representing the team. The Eagles will be preparing to play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
Staley, along with running back Carlos Hyde, was named an alternate for the Pro Bowl. 49ers kicker Robbie Gould was also an alternate, but he was reportedly third behind Graham Gano (Panthers) and Jake Elliott (Eagles). Gano will replace Greg Zuerlein (Rams), who is injured.
Philadelphia beat the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday to advance to the Super Bowl. No players from the Patriots or Eagles will not participate in the Pro Bowl.
Staley has now been named to the Pro Bowl six times during his 11-year career. His 2017 season didn't begin as he had hoped. Nagging injuries and the team's 0-9 start even had Staley contemplating retirement. A conversation with head coach Kyle Shanahan helped change his mind. Staley will be 34 years old at the start of next season.
The 49ers finished the season by winning six of its last seven games and five consecutive victories with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm of the offense. San Francisco ended 2017 by beating three playoff teams (Titans, Jaguars, and Rams) in a row.
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Staley, who is under contract through the 2019 season, finished 2017 as the second-highest graded tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. He did not allow a quarterback pressure during the 49ers' season finale against the Los Angeles Rams and allowed just three over the team's final five games.
The Pro Bowl pits the top players from the NFC and the AFC against each other. The rosters are filled via voting from coaches, players, and fans, with each group counting for one-third of the total votes.
The 2018 Pro Bowl will be played on January 28, 2018, which is the weekend preceding the Super Bowl LII, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. It will be televised nationally by ESPN and simulcasted on ABC. Following a ten-year deal that began in 2017, this will be the second year the Pro Bowl is played in Orlando. 35 of the previous 37 games were played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
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