photo: twitter.com/bengals
Ja'Marr Chase (left) and Joe Burrow celebrate after receiving the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year and Comeback of the Year awards on Feb. 10, 2022.
Three Cincinnati Bengals are celebrating being selected for the 2023 AFC Pro Bowl team.
Quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receiver Ja'marr Chase and defensive end Trey Hendrickson will play for the AFC team during the 2023 Pro Bowl Games on Feb. 5 in Las Vegas, the NFL revealed Dec. 21. A vote by coaches, players and fans cemented their selection for what essentially is a low-stakes all-star game.
This is Burrow's first Pro Bowl selection and the second for Chase and Hendrickson.
The Bengals will join notable players on the AFC team like Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patricks Mahomes, Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb, placekicker Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens and outside linebacker Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers, all of whom will start the game.
Another starter? Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, the former University of Cincinnati standout who now is a cornerback for the New York Jets.
Several additional Bengals have made the AFC team as alternates, including safety Jessie Bates III as a second alternate, wide receiverTyler Boyd as a third alternate, halfback Joe Mixon as a third alternate, kicker Evan McPherson as a fourth alternate. Safety Vonn Bell , center lineman Ted Karras and defensive tackle D.J. Reader are all fifth alternates.
The Pro Bowl will take place Feb. 5, one week before the Super Bowl on Feb. 12. Peyton Manning will coach the AFC team, while his brother Eli Manning will head the NFC. Both are former quarterbacks and two-time Super Bowl champions.
In the past, the Bowl was a light tackle or soft touch game to preserve the health of the players, which had led to years of criticism about the game being boring. Many players also opted out, disappointing fans and broadcasters.
For 2023, though, the format is shifting to a no-contact flag football game with smaller skills tests and a charity bowling tournament occurring during the week leading up to it.
The Pro Bowl will air on ESPN and ABC.
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