TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be out of the playoffs, but there are still reasons to celebrate.
On Tuesday, the NFL announced that, in his first year manning the Buccaneers' offense, quarterback Baker Mayfield will join the 2024 Pro Bowl. Mayfield is replacing Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who is "unable to participate due to injury."
Mayfield isn't the only new addition to this year's Pro Bowl roster, either.
Offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs was also named to the 2024 Pro Bowl. Wirfs will be replacing Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers, who will be playing in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs.
As the NFL made the announcements for Mayfield and Wirfs, it also said that wide receiver Mike Evans, who was named to the initial Pro Bowl roster, will miss the game due to injury. The league nor the Buccaneers went into greater detail regarding the injury.
Mayfield enjoyed a career year in his debut season with Tampa Bay, leading the Bucs to an NFC South Division Championship and winning a Wild Card matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs. This is his first Pro Bowl selection as he becomes the sixth Tampa Bay quarterback to make the roster in franchise history, a press release says.
The Pro Football Writers of America named Mayfield 2023's Most Improved Player, and he's also a finalist for the Associated Press' Comeback Player of the Year. The winner of the latter award will be named at the 13th annual NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 8, airing live on CBS/10 Tampa Bay.
For Wirfs, this will be his third Pro Bowl selection in just his fourth NFL season. According to a press release, Wirfs joins Tony Mayberry as the only offensive lineman in franchise history with three consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl. He's also previously been named to the AP's first-team All-Pro in 2021 and was a member of the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2020.
The 2024 NFL Pro Bowl festivities begin Feb. 1-4 in Orlando.