TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker Kwon Alexander has been added to the Pro Bowl, stepping in for injured Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, the Bucs announced Tuesday.
Wagner, who’d been selected to his fourth Pro Bowl, suffered a hamstring injury this year, but still managed to play all 16 games, tying for a league-leading 97 solo tackles.
Alexander also dealt with a hamstring injury, causing his production to fall. In 12 games in 2017, Alexander finished with 97 combined tackles, 70 of them solo. His three interceptions were tied for the most by any linebacker in the NFL. In 2016, however, he led the NFL with 108 solo tackles.
This is Alexander's first Pro Bowl selection, joining Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones as the NFC's two inside linebackers. Jones will be replacing Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy will also represent the Bucs.
Alexander is the seventh linebacker in Bucs’ history to be named to the Pro Bowl, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks (1997-2006, 2008), Lavonte David (2015), Hugh Green (1982-83), David Lewis (1980), Hardy Nickerson (1993, 1996-99) and Shelton Quarles (2002).
