Jaguars Ngakoue and Smith named to Pro Bowl

With the Sunday AFC Championship Game defeat still stinging for the Jaguars, two members of the defense got a bit of good news Monday afternoon. DE Yannick Ngakoue and LB Telvin Smith have each been added to AFC Pro Bowl roster, as reserve replacements.

It’s the first Pro Bowl selection for each player.

Ngakoue did not register a tackle in Sunday’s game, but had 13 sacks this season, including his one in the Divisional Round upset of the Steelers last week. He also has seven forced fumbles, including the post season, which is the most in the NFL for 2017. He joins teammate Calais Campbell and Tony Brackens, as the only Jaguar defensive linemen to get the Pro Bowl nod.

As for Smith, he registered eight solo tackles in the loss to the Patriots Sunday bringing his three game total to 35 for the post season. That’s the most in the NFL, since the 49ers Navarro Bowman had 35+ in the 2013 playoffs. Smith, also had a touchdown on the 50 yard fumble return against the Steelers last week.

The former Seminole, Smith joins teammate Paul Posluszny (2013) and former Jags pass rushing specialist from the 90’s, Kevin Hardy, as the only linebackers for the Jags to be named to the Pro Bowl, previously.

This brings the total to six Jaguars defenders who have received Pro Bowl recognition, which is the most in one year in franchise history. Calais Campbell has announced that he will not play in the game in Orlando Sunday due to injury.

The only other time Jacksonville has had at least six players in the Pro Bowl was in 1999, when the team had seven that season. That was also the last time the Jags won the division and made the AFC Championship game. They lost that season to the Titans at home denying them the Super Bowl berth.