The NFL announced on Tuesday night that left tackle Trent Williams and linebacker Ryan Kerrigan will represent the Redskins in the 2019 Pro Bowl.
It marks the seventh-consecutive year that Williams will compete in the All-Star showcase, tying Redskins legend Ken Houston for the most consecutive Pro Bowls in a Redskins uniform. Kerrigan will make his third consecutive, and fourth overall, trip to the Pro Bowl, but this year marks the first time being elected as a starter.
Additionally, safety D.J. Swearinger, cornerback Josh Norman, punter Tress Way, kicker Dustin Hopkins, running back Adrian Peterson and tight end Jordan Reed have been selected as alternates for the AFC and NFC matchup.
Though he got off to a slow start statistically, Kerrigan has proven his consistency and durability once again this season, coming on strong in his eighth year in the league.
On Sunday against the Jaguars, he started his 126th consecutive regular season game, the longest active streak among active NFL linebackers. Kerrigan has not missed a start in his NFL career and is one of just six NFL players to have done so since 2011.
"He's one of the best pros we have in here, you know, as far as work ethic [and] taking care of his body," head coach Jay Gruden said. "Obviously, if you look at him, you can see that. He works extremely hard in practice. We do take a little bit off of him from time to time. That's just because we ask him to. He never volunteers that, but, yeah, he is just a great worker. I think he's one of those guys that can play for a long time because he takes care of his body, works extremely hard."
Kerrigan has committed 5.5 sacks in the last five games, upping his total to 11 sacks on the season, and recently passed Charles Mann for No. 2 on the all-time franchise list in career sacks (82.5), just nine sacks shy of passing Dexter Manley on the Redskins' all-time list.
As he demonstrated on Sunday, he's also been deft at creating impactful turnovers, responsible for three forced fumbles, good for 10th in the league.
Meanwhile, Williams' selection continues to solidify him as one of the best offensive linemen in the sport, especially considering he's missed three games in 2018 with injury. His seventh selection also puts him up in rare company, joining Houston (7), Darrell Green (7), Charley Taylor (8) and Chris Hanburger (9) as the only Redskins with at least seven appearances.
With this year's selection, it is the 20th time a Redskins offensive tackle has earned the honor since 1970, as Chris Samuels, Jim Lachey, Mark May and Joe Jacoby have also appeared in the game.
"I don't feel like there is anything he is really limited in doing," quarterback Alex Smith said earlier this year. "I think as a left tackle, he can do it all. He's great in the open field. I mean, he's so strong handling any guys his size or bull rush or things like that. He's got great feet. I think all those things obviously make him that special.
"You watch a lot of film over the years, you see plays, and I think everybody in the league knows the caliber of player he is and how special he is. It's always different though when you are on the same field as him, and you see it live, and it becomes a little more real. It's special to see on a daily basis."
For the third straight year, the Pro Bowl will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. From 1950-71, the Pro Bowl was played at the Los Angeles Coliseum before alternating locations up until 1978.
From 1979-2008, the game was played at Aloha Stadium before also being played in Sun Life Stadium (2009) and the University of Phoenix Stadium (2014) in recent years.
The 2019 Pro Bowl will take place on Sunday Jan. 27.
