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Aaron Rodgers Pulls Out Of Pro Bowl: Replaced by Raider’s Derek Carr

By William Gomez
Published on: 13:14 PST, Jan 20, 2016

Green Bay Packers star quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, has opted out of this year’s Pro Bowl due to an undisclosed injury, according to reports.

With the news, Oakland Raiders second-year QB, Derek Carr, will now serve as Rodgers’ replacement in the all-star football classic that will take place in Hawaii on January 31.

According to ESPN, Rodgers was listed on the Green Bay injury report back in November with a right shoulder injury but continued to play without missing anytime.

This is the second consecutive year that Rodgers has pulled out of the Pro Bowl due to injury. Last season he suffered a torn calf muscle during the final month of the season and continued to play with the injury throughout the playoffs.

He threw for 3,821 passing yards along with 31 touchdowns during the 2015 regular season, and led the Pack to the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Though it’s Rodger’s fifth Pro Bowl selection, the star quarterback has only played in two of the games, 2009 and 2011.

Rodgers’ decision to sit out comes just a week after he and the Packers suffered a devastating over-time loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the divisional round of the playoffs. It’s already considered one of the best playoff games of the year, and included a game-tying hail mary by Rodgers that sent the game into overtime.

With Rodgers sitting out, the Packers will still be sending three players to this year’s Pro Bowl: linebacker Clay Matthews, guard Josh Sitton, and fullback John Kuhn.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff will also be making the trip out to Aloha Stadium, as they were selected to coach one of the Pro Bowl teams earlier this week along with Kansas City Chiefs head coach, Andy Reid.

Derek Carr had a superb sophomore campaign this season for the 7-9 Oakland Raiders. He threw for 3,987 yards along with 32 touchdowns and a 91.1 passer rating. For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Oakland Raiders have established a franchise quarterback in Carr, and have surrounded him with offensive studs that include speculated offensive-rookie-of-the-year Amari Cooper and elusive running back Latavius Murray.

Carr sent out a statement via his Instagram account on Wednesday after hearing that he would replace Aaron Rodgers at this year’s Pro Bowl.

“So happy to announce that my family and I will be representing ‘RaiderNation at the Pro Bowl this year! I want to thank God, my family, friends, teammates, coaches, the whole organization,and all of our fans for your support! Thank you to every one of you fans that voted! I also want to thank the opposing players and coaches that voted for me as well! That means more to me than you know!”

Carr will be the first Oakland Raider quarterback since Rich Gannon (who was selected from 1999-02) to be selected to the Pro Bowl, and just the fifth Raider QB all-time to make it to Hawaii.

Three other Raiders will join Carr in Honolulu on January 31; Defensive end Khalil Mack, fullback Marcel Reece, and retiring strong safety Charles Woodson were all selected to this year’s NFC vs AFC all-star match-up.

Players selected to this year’s Pro Bowl will be drafted in a fantasy-style draft on January 27 at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2 by hall of famers Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin, who will also serve as the two team’s captains along with Darren Woodson and Ed Davis as co-captains.

The 2016 Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, January 31, 2016, and televised live on ESPN from Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. It will serve as the signature event to kick off Super Bowl week.

(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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