Five Detroit Lions named to Pro Bowl for first time since 1999

Allen Park — Success breeds recognition, and after winning their division for the first time in three decades, the Detroit Lions are being recognized for their success.

On Wednesday evening, five Lions players were named to the Pro Bowl roster, the most for the team since 1999. The group selected consists of center Frank Ragnow, offensive tackle Penei Sewell, rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and linebacker and special teams standout Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

For Ragnow, it's a second straight selection and third in four seasons for the six-year veteran. Despite battling a chronic toe injury, in addition to knee and back issues incurred during the campaign, he's managed to rank as the top-graded center in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Both an elite run blocker and pass protector, Ragnow has allowed just 16 pressures and a single sack in 542 pass-blocking snaps.

Similarly, Sewell earned his second straight Pro Bowl selection after making the roster as a top alternate a year ago. The first draft pick of general manager Brad Holmes' tenure, Sewell has rapidly developed into one of the faces of the franchises a cornerstone of the team's three-year rebuild.

Like Ragnow, Sewell is PFF's top-graded player at his position, posting one of the best run-blocking grades in the analytic site's history. And among qualifying offensive tackles, Swell's pass-blocking efficiency also ranks No. 1, having surrendered 18 pressures and one sack this season. That's marked improvement from his 2022 blocking figures.

The other three are first-time Pro Bowlers.

It speaks to the respect Hutchinson has from his peers and the league's coaches after finishing eighth in the fan balloting, which ended Christmas Day. That's because players and coaches, who make up the other two-thirds of the selection process, cast their votes prior to Hutchinson's three-sack performance against the Dallas Cowboys last weekend.

Even though he's lagged well behind the league leaders in sacks, the second-year edge rusher out of Michigan has been a handful for opposing offenses this season. His 92 quarterback pressures rank third in the NFL behind only Micah Parsons of the Cowboys and Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers.

Hutchinson's 9.5 sacks following the surge in Dallas match his rookie output, while his 28 quarterback hits are nearly double the 15 he produced a year ago. He's also surpassed his first-year total with 11 tackles for loss in 2023.

LaPorta, meanwhile, has spent his debut season rewriting Detroit's record books. Not only has he reset many of Detroit's rookie records for a tight end, he's bested the franchise's marks at his position for both receiving yardage and touchdowns. And with three catches in the season finale, he'll also pass Brandon Pettigrew's single-season record for receptions by a Lions tight end. Pettigrew caught 83 balls in 2011.

With seven grabs against the Cowboys, LaPorta matched Keith Jackson (1988) for the most receptions by a rookie tight end in NFL history. LaPorta's nine scores are tied for third among first-year players at his position, and he additionally has an opportunity to finish third in receiving yardage with 35 or more against Minnesota this Sunday.

The Lions' group is rounded out by Reeves-Maybin. Long one of the NFL's top special teams performers, he's taken his production to another level in his return to Detroit, tallying a league-high 13 coverage tackles to go with two successful executed fake punts — one as a ball carrier and the other as a passer.

Beyond the five selections, the Lions also have several players who have been named alternates for the Pro Bowl, headlined by wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who are both first alternates. The other alternates are quarterback Jared Goff (second), guard Jonah Jackson (third), running back David Montgomery (fourth), return man Kalif Raymond (fourth) and linebacker Alex Anzalone (fifth).

The Lions last had five Pro Bowlers in 1999, when they sent defensive end Robert Porcher, defensive tackle Luther Elliss, linebacker Stephen Boyd, tight end David Sloan and kicker Jason Hanson.

The Pro Bowl format was changed last season and this year's flag football game will be held on Feb. 4 in Orlando, Florida. It will be preceded by skills competition, starting Feb. 1, pitting players against each other in various events such as precision passing, dodge ball and closest to the pin.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

@Justin_Rogers

Vikings at Lions

Kickoff: 1 p.m., Sunday, Ford Field

TV/radio: FOX/97.1

Records: Minnesota (7-9), Detroit (11-5)

Line: Lions by 4