Rodgers won’t play in Pro Bowl

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was added to the Pro Bowl roster as an injury replacement for Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. That means more to me than they know.

Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin will serve as non-playing captains for their Pro Bowl squads – Team Rice and Team Irvin – and each will select a coaching staff. His is the fourth Raiders quarterback to make the Pro Bowl since 1970, joining a list that includes Ken Stabler, Jeff Hostetler, Gannon and Carr. Rodgers threw for 3,821 yards and 31 touchdowns against just eight interceptions in 2015, though his passing yardage and completion percentage were the lowest since he became a starter in seasons where he played 15 or more games. Fullback Marcel Reece was also voted into the game, but has since been removed due to a PED suspension. He has started all 32 games over his first two National Football League seasons – the first offensive player to do that in Raiders history.

Rodgers was selected for his fifth Pro Bowl, but the nature of his injury is unclear. Todd Downing was named by analytics web site Pro Football Focus as its Quarterbacks Coach of the Year, news to which Carr quickly replied in a tweet, “he deserves it!”