The NFL announced this evening that five Bengals have been voted to this season’s Pro Bowl game, and the number of Bengals selected for the game could eventually be higher through the possibility of voted alternates being selected for the game at a later time. The Bengals have not had as many as five players selected for the Pro Bowl since the 2005 season, when five were voted in. The club record for players selected is nine, from the 1988 season, and the second-most has been six, from the 1976 and 1989 seasons.-
The Bengals voted in for this season’s game are DT Geno Atkins, TE Tyler Eifert, WR A.J. Green, S Reggie Nelson and OT Andrew Whitworth.-
Three Bengals — QB Andy Dalton, DE Carlos Dunlap and special teamer Cedric Peerman — were voted as first alternates. They will be added to the game if one voted player in their position group is unable to participate. Selections from the two teams reaching the Super Bowl will be among those unable to play, as will players who are not cleared due to injury.-
Additionally, Bengals CB Adam Jones was voted a seventh alternate.-
This season’s game will be played Sun., Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. (ET) at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. It will be televised live on ESPN.-
For the third consecutive year, the Pro Bowl will be “unconferenced.” Instead of the AFC vs. NFC matchup that was previously the format, players were selected without regard to conference in voting by fans, coaches and players. Players will be assigned to opposing teams during the 2016 Pro Bowl Draft on ESPN2 on Wed., Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. The teams will be known as Team Irvin and Team Rice, after Hall of Fame wide receivers Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice, who will serve as alumni team captains and head the draft selection process for each of their squads.-
“I’m excited for our players who have been voted in,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “They are both thrilled and honored to be recognized. It’s a tribute to their teammates and the organization to have the number selected today and the high alternates. As the coach, I’m excited for the players making a return trip as well as our two first-time honorees.”-
More on the selected Bengals:-
* WR Green, a fifth-year player, has been voted to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time. He is the only Bengal at any position to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first five seasons. Despite a multi-faceted Bengals offensive mix, Green has caught 77 passes for 1206 yards and eight TDs in the season’s first 14 games. He ranks sixth in the NFL in receiving yards, and he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 3, when he had 10 catches for a career 227 yards and two fourth-quarter TDs in a 28-24 comeback win. Green’s five selections ranks second among Bengals WRs to Chad Johnson, who had six.-
* DT Atkins, only a fourth-round draft selection in 2010, is in the game for the fourth time in his six seasons. He ranks second this season among NFL interior linemen in sacks (10.0), just one off the lead, and he leads the team in total tackles-for-loss (15) while ranking second in total QB hits (18). He has the most Pro Bowl selections of any Bengals defensive lineman — no other DL has had more than two — and he ranks second among all Bengals defenders in nods to the game, training only CB Lemar Parrish (six).-
* OT Whitworth, a 10th-year veteran, is a second-time Pro Bowl selection. He has started every game this season at LOT and has been a major contributor to Cincinnati ranking tied for fourth in the NFL in scoring (27.0 points per game). A key team leader on and off the field, Whitworth leads the Cincinnati roster in career Bengals games played (155) and starts (151).-
* TE Eifert, a third-year player, is a first time selection. His 12 TDs led the NFL through Weeks 11 and 12 this season. He has seen only limited action in the last four games, due to injuries, but his 12 scores are still is just one short of the league lead. He has set a new team record for TDs by a tight end (previously nine).-
* S Nelson is a ninth-year pro in the Pro Bowl for the first time. He leads the NFL in interceptions (eight), bidding to become the first Bengal to have sole claim to the league INTs lead for a full season. He tied a team-record earlier this season by recording an INT in five consecutive games. He has 115 return yards. He ranks second on the team in total passes defensed (11), third in tackles (61) and has a fumble recovery with a 25-yard return.
