Shedeur Sanders Named to AFC Roster for 2024 Pro Bowl Games as Quarterback Replacement

In a recent roster update for the AFC team participating in next week's Pro Bowl Games, Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns has been chosen as a replacement quarterback, confirmed by a source familiar with the matter who spoke under anonymity due to the NFL's pending official announcement. This development was initially reported by Yahoo Sports. Sanders entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick despite expectations that he might have been selected earlier. Throughout his rookie NFL season, he appeared in eight games, taking the starting quarterback role for the Browns' concluding seven games, where he achieved a record of three wins and four losses. His on-field performance included a 56.6% completion rate and a passer rating of 68.1. Over the course of the season, he accumulated 1,400 passing yards, threw seven touchdowns, but also had 10 interceptions. The original AFC quarterback lineup, revealed December 23, included Josh Allen from the Buffalo Bills, Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers, and New England Patriots' Drake Maye. However, adjustments became necessary as Maye will not participate due to the Patriots' advancement to the Super Bowl, and both Herbert and Allen were sidelined with injuries at the closure of their seasons. In addition to these absences, other quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Daniel Jones from the Indianapolis Colts, and Bo Nix representing the Denver Broncos all faced season-ending injuries. Among the alternates initially considered was Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who ultimately opted out of playing in the Pro Bowl Games. Sanders was not among the four quarterbacks designated as alternates when the roster was first announced, making his current addition notable. The challenge of filling Pro Bowl rosters due to the frequency of injuries has been compounded since changes were made beginning in the 2022 season, when the event format shifted from a traditional full-contact all-star game to a weeklong event featuring skills competitions and a flag football game. Historically, quarterbacks with limited starting experience, such as Tyler Huntley who participated as an alternate three years ago after recording two touchdowns and three interceptions in four starts, have been tapped to participate in Pro Bowl events. The upcoming Pro Bowl Games are scheduled to be hosted in San Francisco ahead of the Super Bowl, with legendary Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Steve Young serving as coaches for the NFC and AFC respectively for the flag football competition on February 3.