Even in inactivity, Walter Jones continues to make a case as the Seattle Seahawks’ best player ever.
One day after being placed on season-ending injured reserve, Jones was named the Seahawks’ lone representative to the Pro Bowl. While a knee injury will prevent him from playing, the invitation set a franchise record for career Pro Bowls. Jones was named to his ninth Pro Bowl, one more than longtime Seahawk defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy.
Jones was named a starter along with Carolina Panthers tackle Jordan Gross. Washington’s Chris Samuels is listed as a backup, but he’s also out for the season because of injury.
Jones had a solid season but got his latest Pro Bowl nod due in part to reputation. He has allowed five sacks this season, despite playing just 12 games. In his last action, a nationally televised Thanksgiving game at Dallas, Jones gave up a pair of sacks to Cowboys Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
The 34-year-old Jones has in the past gone through entire seasons without giving up a sack.
Jones spent several games playing on a sore left knee, an injury that eventually ended his season. He was placed on IR earlier this week and is scheduled to undergo microfracture surgery, which will sideline him until training camp in late July.
This marks the eighth straight year Jones has been invited to the Pro Bowl. He also went in 1999, his third year in the NFL. The only time he hasn’t gone since then was 2000, which was also the last time the Seahawks went without a representative.
The last time Seattle had just one representative was in 2002, when Jones was the team’s lone honoree. Just twice since 1983 have the Seahawks sent fewer than two players to the Pro Bowl: in 1990 (one) and 2000 (zero).
Linebacker Julian Peterson and fullback Leonard Weaver were named alternates to this year’s Pro Bowl.
Several of the Seahawks’ potential Pro Bowl candidates saw their seasons interrupted by injuries. Defensive end Patrick Kerney is on IR, and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu have missed games. Cornerback Marcus Trufant went to his first Pro Bowl last season but did not get a return trip, perhaps because he’s rarely been tested by opposing quarterbacks. Trufant has just only one interception this season.
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