Could Washington Redskins wide receiver/returner Jamison Crowder receive his first Pro Bowl nod this year?
NFL.com's Marc Sessler sees it as a possibility, selecting Crowder as the most likely first-time Pro Bowler for the Redskins.
"A second-team Pro Bowl alternate in 2016, Crowder finished last season as one of the more exciting players in the NFC, leading Redskins receivers in yards after the catch (383) and touchdowns (seven)," writes Sessler in an article looking at first-time Pro Bowl candidates for all 16 NFC teams. "All of those scoring plays came from the slot, generating some questions about the team's desire to see Crowder play outside, where he'll face starting corners on a regular basis. Terrelle Pryor will be featured in Washington, but Crowder's opportunity is clear after DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon both moved on in free agency. The Redskins are going to pass the ball plenty, leaving Crowder -- also a potent return man -- as a candidate for Pro Bowl glory."
Let's start with his abilities on special teams, where Crowder was named a Pro Bowl alternate last year as a returner after the Duke product recorded 27 punt returns for 328 yards and a touchdown.
His 12.1 yards per punt return were the fifth most among players that recorded at least 20 punt returns.
In Week 5, Crowder was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week as he recorded an 85-yard touchdown return.
It was Washington's first punt return for touchdown since the 2008 season, when Santana Moss recorded an 80-yard score against the Detroit Lions.
On the offensive end, meanwhile, Crowder is Washington's top returning receiving threat after posting career highs across the board last season with 67 receptions for 847 yards and seven receiving touchdowns.
"I've said all along Jamison can play anywhere," said Redskins head coach Jay Gruden. "He can play outside, inside. He can play running back probably if he wanted to, so we'll utilize Jamison and try to get him more involved, not just in the passing game and the running game. He's an excellent player, dynamic player. He just continues to prove every day why we like him so much. He's great on option routes, he can run vertical stems. He can run just about anything you ask him to run."
