Just as they were last year, Washington Redskins tackle Trent Williams, guard Brandon Scherff and linebacker Ryan Kerrigan have been selected to the Pro Bowl.
The National Football League announced on Tuesday evening that three Washington Redskins have been named to the 2018 Pro Bowl, as tackle Trent Williams, guard Brandon Scherff and linebacker Ryan Kerrigan have been selected.
Linebacker Zach Brown and cornerback Josh Norman have also been selected as alternates.
It is the first time the Redskins have had at least three Pro Bowlers in back-to-back seasons since the 2012-13 campaigns.
Williams has been named to the Pro Bowl for the sixth straight season, tying Len Hauss (1967-72) for the second longest consecutive selections streak in franchise history. He has also tied Hauss and Chris Samuels (2001-02, 2005-08) for the fourth most Pro Bowl appearances by a Redskins player.
Additionally, with this year's selection, it is the 19th time a Redskins offensive tackle has earned the honor since 1970.
While Williams has battled a knee injury throughout the 2017 season, the 2010 first-round pick remains one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL today. There's been some discussions about Williams' season being shut down early, but he's continued to be there for his teammates against some of the league's best pass rushers.
"When you're talking about possibly taking Trent Williams out of the lineup, I don't care who you put in there, you're going to have a drop-off," said Redskins head coach Jay Gruden earlier this year. "That's just the way it is because he's the best in the league."
Williams' success has translated over to Pro Football Focus' metrics as well, as the website recently wrote that the 29-year-old has yet to allow a sack on 363 pass blocking snaps this season.
Scherff, meanwhile, becomes the first interior offensive lineman for the Redskins to be named to consecutive Pro Bowls since Pro Football Hall of Famer Russ Grimm was selected four straight years from 1983-86.
While the University of Iowa product missed two games this season due to an MCL sprain, his improvement in almost every facet has allowed the Redskins to open up their playbook.
"I like his progress because the game has slowed down and he sees it so much better," said Redskins assistant head coach/offensive line coach Bill Callahan earlier this year. "He's playing the game faster with his hands and we all know he has very quick, fast feet. But now, he's developing his hand skills and taking them to another level, so that's fun to see. That's very encouraging and it's exciting and he's having success with it. We're trying maintain that success and build upon it."
Gruden added that Scherff's been one of the team's best players since the day the Redskins selected him with the No. 5 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
"He's been very impressive since he walked in the building with his work ethic, his athleticism, his strength, his power," Gruden said. "Now he's really getting comfortable. He's reacting. He's anticipating. He's pulling. He's pass-blocking. He's run-blocking. He's double teaming. He's doing everything you want him to do out in screens, out in space. He's the best guard out in space by far in this league. It's fun to watch him."
With the selections of Scherff and Williams, they become the first Redskins offensive line duo to be named to consecutive Pro Bowls since Grimm and Joe Jacoby earned four straight selections from 1983-86.
Defensively, Kerrigan has earned his third Pro Bowl nod and second in as many seasons, as the outside linebacker continues to be a steady pass rushing threat for Washington's defense.
He is the first defensive player for the Redskins to be named to consecutive Pro Bowls since London Fletcher earned four straight selections from 2009-12.
Through 14 games this season, Kerrigan has already tallied nine sacks along with two fumbles forced and an interception, which was returned for a touchdown in the regular season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In a Thanksgiving victory over the New York Giants last month, Kerrigan joined rare company in a two-sack outing, as the Purdue product joined Jared Allen, Derrick Thomas, DeMarcus Ware and Reggie White as the only players in NFL history to record at least 7.5 sacks in each of the first seven seasons of a career since the NFL adopted sacks as an official statistic in 1982.
"You're just so impressed with not only what he is as a football player but as a person and how he conducts himself on and off the field," Gruden said. "He's always available, he's practicing every day, he's playing hard every day, he consistently has a high motor every week and, you know, he's just a great captain, great leader – not a captain, but a great role model for these young guys coming up and preparing themselves to be great NFL players – you can't have enough Ryan Kerrigans on your team."
