On Monday morning, the Detroit Lions announced left tackle Taylor Decker would replace right tackle Penei Sewell in the 2025 Pro Bowl, with Sewell bowing out due to an injury. Later, via the announcement by the team his replacement plays for, it was announced Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will also not participate in the Pro Bowl Games due to an injury.
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers is replacing St. Brown on the NFC Pro Bowl roster.
While Sewell clearly suffered a left knee or left leg injury in the playoff loss to the Washington Commanders, St. Brown's injury is less clear.
St. Brown had another excellent season in 2024. He fell short of his 2023 totals in yardage and catches, but he set a career-high with 12 touchdowns. He finished this season second in the league in catches (115), fifth in receiving yards (1,263) and third in touchdowns. He was named First-Team All-Pro for the second straight season, and he was third among NFC wide receivers in Pro Bowl voting.
Amon-Ra St. Brown bows out of Pro Bowl Games due to injury
St. Brown has had a lot of success in the Pro Bowl Games each of the last two years. In 2023, he won the "Best Catch" competition. During the flag football game last year, he had 10 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown (h/t to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit for finding those Pro Bowl stats, so no one else had to do it).
The reason St. Brown is bowing out of the Pro Bowl Games should not be discounted, since he may be dealing with a minor nagging injury. But the event is not worth risking something worse happening, and he probably couldn't just say he didn't want to go. So an "injury" is the official reason for his withdrawal. Under the circumstances, after an earlier than expected exit from the playoffs, wanting to get away from football for a little bit is completely understandable.
As of this writing, quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Decker, center Frank Ragnow, safety Brian Branch and punter Jack Fox are the Lions' players still expected to participate in the Pro Bowl Games, which start on Thursday night.
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