After a broken ankle ended Marshal Yanda’s run of six straight Pro Bowl selections last year, the Ravens right guard has begun a new streak.
Yanda, inside linebacker C.J. Mosley, and safety Eric Weddle were officially named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday while kicker Justin Tucker was named a first alternate and left tackle Ronnie Stanley a second alternate for the exhibition game, which will take place in Orlando on Jan. 27.
Tying Terrell Suggs for fourth place on the Ravens’ career Pro Bowl selections list with seven, the 34-year-old Yanda returned from last year’s ankle injury as well as offseason shoulder surgery to reclaim his place as one of the best guards in the NFL. He enters Week 16 ranked as the third-best guard in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus’ grading system. Yanda has led a revitalized offensive line that’s helped the Ravens produce the league’s No. 2 rushing attack.
Most Pro Bowl selections in #Ravens history:
1. Ray Lewis (13)
2. Jonathan Ogden (11)
3. Ed Reed (9)
4. Terrell Suggs (7)
Marshal Yanda (7)— Luke Jones (@BaltimoreLuke) December 19, 2018
“With the injury last year, it was very hard for me not being out there with my brothers, and it has been a long road back this season,” said Yanda, who called the honor “a team award” after missing 14 games in 2017. “I am so thankful to be playing this great game I love and grateful to be a part of this incredible organization.”
Mosley and Weddle have each been named to three straight Pro Bowls and will represent the league’s top-ranked defense in both points allowed and total yards.
Despite battling an early-season knee injury, Mosley has led Baltimore with 91 tackles to go along with a half-sack and three pass breakups. Scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, the 2014 first-round pick has now been named to four Pro Bowls, tying Peter Boulware for seventh most in team history.
Mosley has graded as the 37th-best linebacker in the NFL, according to PFF’s grading system.
“I want to thank the Ravens organization, our fans, my peers and the coaches for voting me in,” Mosley said in a statement released by the team. “We have a great defensive line, a terrific group of linebackers and a really strong secondary, and everyone plays a big role in each other’s success. … While it’s an honor to be a part of the Pro Bowl, hopefully I won’t be playing in it because our team is in the Super Bowl.”
After recording a total of 10 interceptions and 21 pass breakups over his first two seasons in Baltimore, Weddle has yet to record a pick and has registered just three pass breakups in 2018. However, teammates and coaches have continued to praise his leadership and cerebral presence as he’s relayed the calls in the defensive huddle since an injury forced Mosley out of action early in the season.
The six-time Pro Bowl selection — his first three came with the San Diego Chargers — ranks second on the team behind Mosley with 66 tackles this season.
“The Pro Bowl is something I never take for granted, and I’m pretty stoked about it,” said the 33-year-old Weddle, who’s graded as the league’s 21st-best safety by PFF this season. “Each year, you just work hard and try to play your very best. To receive recognition for what you do on the field — even if it may not show up in other areas — is awesome.”
Yanda and Mosley were named AFC starters while Weddle will serve as a reserve.
Baltimore’s biggest Pro Bowl snub was Tucker, who hasn’t been selected since 2016 despite continuing to be viewed as the consensus best kicker in the NFL. The most accurate kicker in league history, Tucker has gone 28-for-30 on field goal attempts this season with both misses coming on blocks. The two-time Pro Bowl kicker was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in September and November and hasn’t missed a single kick since his shocking missed extra point — the only one of his career — at the conclusion of the Ravens’ 24-23 loss to New Orleans in Week 7.
The 29-year-old was named the first alternate behind New York Jets kicker Jason Myers.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley was named a second Pro Bowl alternate while battling through a nagging ankle injury that’s caused him to miss only one game. The 2016 first-round pick enters Week 16 grading as the 19th-best offensive tackle in the NFL, according to PFF.
