2023 Pro Bowl: Which Chicago Bears players got snubbed?
2023 Season
January 4, 2024· 3 min read
Photo: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Pete Martuneac
January 4, 2024 · 3 min read

The NFL's 2023 Pro Bowl rosters were announced this week, and two Chicago Bears players will represent the team on the NFC squad: defensive end Montez Sweat and cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

Both Bears deserve the recognition. Sweat is tied for tenth in the league with 12.5 sacks, a career-high, and currently leads both the Chicago Bears and his former team, the Washington Commanders, in sacks, the first player in NFL history to do so.

Johnson has been having a banner year. Without a contract extension, he bet on himself entering his fourth year in the league, and he appears to have hit the jackpot. His four interceptions are a career-high and are tied for seventh most in the league. He also has 10 pass breakups. Johnson's 90.8 Pro Football Focus grade is by far the best mark of his career.

Yet, while it's great that two Bears players got their flowers, it's hard to ignore a few others on this roster who were overlooked. Snubs, really.

Here are four Chicago Bears who should've joined Sweat and Johnson on the 2023 NFC Pro Bowl roster.

DJ Moore

Let's start with the most obvious candidate. With 1,300 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns, I don't understand what else Moore could've done to earn a Pro Bowl bid.

AJ Brown, Mike Evans, and CeeDee Lamb deserve their roster spot, but Puka Nacua? I get that he's having a terrific rookie season, but DJ Moore is having a better season, full stop.

Teven Jenkins

Missing five games with injuries generally kills a player's chance of post-season accolades, but Jenkins should be an exception. When he's been on the field, he's arguably the very best guard in the league. Yes, better than Zack Martin, and Quentin Nelson ... all of them

I don't think I've heard his name called in a game since his rookie year, which is precisely what you want from your offensive linemen. Huge snub.

TJ Edwards

Edwards has been one of GM Ryan Poles' best free agent signings, and for him to not get a Pro Bowl nod is egregious with the season he's having.

Edwards is tied for the most takeaways for a linebacker with five (the other being teammate Tremaine Edmunds) and has tied a career-high with seven pass deflections. In Sunday's season finale, he needs only nine total tackles to break Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher's franchise record for total tackles in a season, a record Urlacher set in a year that he was both a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro.

I know Fred Warner and Bobby Wagner are great players, but this should have been the year for Edwards to earn Pro Bowl recognition.

Tyrique Stevenson

This one may not entirely be a snub, but Stevenson has played greatl lately, and I wanted to shout him out.

After his first multi-interception game of his career, he earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He now leads all rookies with four interceptions on the season, even more than Devon Witherspoon, who was drafted fifth overall and did get a Pro Bowl nod.

Which Chicago Bears players do you think were snubbed a 2023 Pro Bowl bid? Let your voice be heard in the comments, and if you'd like an ad-free experience on Bears Talk, consider upgrading to a premium account today. Bear Down!


Tags:2023 SeasonChicago BearsDj MooreJaylon JohnsonMontez SweatNewsNflTeven JenkinsTj EdwardsTyrique Stevenson
Pete Martuneac
Pete MartuneacManaging Editor at BearsTalk

Comments

Join the Conversation

Sign up to comment on this story

Create a free BearsTalk account to comment, earn points, and join the community.

Loading comments…

More From BearsTalk