The Tennessee Titans will have at least three of their players representing them at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games, with four others set to serve as alternates.
The three Titans making the cut after voting by fans, players and coaches are running back Derrick Henry, defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and long snapper Morgan Cox.
For Henry, it’s the third Pro Bowl nod of his career, while Cox is making his fifth appearance. Simmons gets his second career nod, but it’s the first in which he was directly voted in, as he was a replacement last year.
The alternates from the Titans are center Ben Jones, punter Ryan Stonehouse, safety Kevin Byard and linebacker Dylan Cole, who was voted in for special teams.
Stonehouse, who is on pace to smash the single-season record for punt yards average, was the leading vote-getter at his position in the AFC in the fan vote, but apparently he didn’t do so well with players and coaches.
Another glaring snub (and for the second year in a row) is defensive lineman Denico Autry, who was in the midst of a career year before missing the past four games due to a knee injury.
He was second on the team with nine sacks last season, tying his career-high, and he has followed that up with seven sacks in 2022, which is second on the team despite missing the aforementioned games.
The NFL has made significant changes to the Pro Bowl this year. They are as follows, per NFL.com:
Taking place in Las Vegas in 2023, The Pro Bowl Games presented by Verizon will be a week-long celebration of player skills featuring an exciting new format that spotlights Flag football. The multi-day AFC vs NFC competition will culminate in an action-packed flag game featuring Pro Bowl players at Allegiant Stadium, and will air on ESPN and ABC on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023.
Throughout the week, The Pro Bowl Games will also integrate new challenges where players showcase their football and non-football skills in unique competitions. The revamped programming allows the top stars show off their skills and celebrate their accomplishments in a fun, memorable way, surrounded by their families and fans.