Indianapolis Colts left guard Quenton Nelson was named to the AFC team for the 2024 Pro Bowl games, the league announced Wednesday night.
Nelson is the only Colts player to be represented on the starting squad while four others were named alternates. Those include defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., center Ryan Kelly and linebacker Zaire Franklin.
Six seasons. Six Pro Bowls. 💪 pic.twitter.com/wgG01NOw1E
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 4, 2024
Our 2024 Pro Bowl Alternates: pic.twitter.com/teyhCh6NHN
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 4, 2024
Nelson certainly deserves the honor of being a Pro Bowler for the sixth time in his career. He’s enjoying a strong bounce-back season both in pass protection and as a run blocker.
There certainly can be an argument made that Buckner and Franklin were snubbed. Buckner has been the engine of a Colts defense that set the franchise record for sacks in a season. Despite continuously seeing high rates of double teams, Buckner has produced consistently.
Franklin leads the NFL in tackles (170) and the AFC in solo tackles (104). Both Baltimore Ravens linebackers Roquan Smith (84) and Patrick Queen (78) both have fewer solo tackles but were named starting inside linebackers.
Pittman Jr. is enjoying a career season. Entering the finale, he has 104 receptions for 1,108 yards and four touchdowns. His reception and yardage totals are both career-highs. His receptions are third among AFC wideouts behind only Tyreek Hill (112) and Keenan Allen (108), and his yardage ranks sixth-best among all AFC wideouts.
Kelly is also enjoying a bounce-back season despite missing three games due to concussions. He has been one of the best centers in terms of pass protection this season, and he’s held up very strongly in the run game.
We’ll see if any of these alternates get added to the starting squad between injuries and Super Bowl players not being able to attend.
For now, the Colts will be represented by just one player.
