Joel Bitonio, Amari Cooper, and Myles Garrett were selected to the starting team out of the five Cleveland Browns players named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster.
Denzel Ward was selected for his third Pro Bowl, while David Njoku was selected for his first. Cleveland also has six alternates who may be added to the roster in the future.
Cleveland — The Browns are having a fantastic season and are on their way to the postseason. Of course, excellent players are the foundation of every successful season. On Wednesday, the AFC announced the roster for the Pro Bowl, giving five of those men their just desserts:
The five players, who were chosen by a vote of both fans and teammates, will all compete in the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Florida, from February 1-4. This year marks the second year of a new structure that replaces the traditional tackle football all-star game, which was highly criticized for years owing to its lack of excitement. The new format features skills competitions and a flag football game between the honorees.
Starting pitchers Bitonio and Garrett, who are making their sixth and fifth Pro Bowl appearances, respectively, are the highlights of Cleveland’s roster once again. Bitonio’s six consecutive nominations are the fourth-longest stretch of any Browns player, which strengthens his case for possible future induction into the Hall of Fame. The 29-year-old wideout Cooper, who earns his fifth career Pro Bowl nomination but first with the Browns, joins Garrett and Smith as starters. Garrett’s 14 sacks and 17 tackles for loss this season have him in the running for Defensive Player of the Year. Cooper’s 1,250 yards and 17.4 yards per reception (both career highs) have him tied for the most receiving yards by a wideout in franchise history. His 265 receiving yards in Week 16 against Houston also set a Cleveland record for the most receiving yards in a single game.
The 29-year-old wideout Cooper, who earns his fifth career Pro Bowl nomination but first with the Browns, joins Garrett and Smith as starters. Garrett’s 14 sacks and 17 tackles for loss this season have him in the running for Defensive Player of the Year. Cooper’s 1,250 yards and 17.4 yards per reception (both career highs) have him tied for the most receiving yards by a wideout in franchise history. His 265 receiving yards in Week 16 against Houston also set a Cleveland record for the most receiving yards in a single game.
The Browns will have at least five players selected to the Pro Bowl for just the tenth time since the AFL and NFL combined in 1970. Eight is the club record, which was most recently matched after the 1987 campaign.
The 2024 Pro Bowl Games will include a range of events in addition to the flag football tournament to allow participants to test their abilities on the field, such as:
Not to mention, Garrett has been a vocal opponent of the new format since he injured his big toe competing in the “Gridiron Gauntlet” obstacle course race the previous year. Although the 28-year-old did not lose any playing time, he did declare in April that he would no longer participate in the Pro Bowl; it is unclear if he has subsequently altered his mind.
