CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NFL voters did not give much love to the league's worst team as zero Carolina Panthers were selected to start in the Pro Bowl. However, the Panthers had four players selected as alternates that could find their way into the event.
The 2024 Pro Bowl Games rosters were announced on Wednesday, with no Panthers players making the final cut. The last time the Panthers sent zero players to the Pro Bowl was in 2020.
Four players were selected as alternates, though, and could represent Carolina if those selected ahead of them choose not to play or are playing in the Super Bowl.
Derrick Brown
The Panthers player with the best shot at the Pro Bowl this season is defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who was chosen as a first alternate.
Brown is just three tackles away from breaking the NFL record for most tackles by a defensive tackle in a season. He's been a force on the defense as one of the few bright spots during this season.
Brown has just one sack this year but has managed 13 quarterback hits. He also grabbed his second career interception in Week 14 against the New Orleans Saints.
Brian Burns
Two-time pro bowler Brian Burns is hoping to be selected for the third year in a row after a decent year at the edge rush position. Burns was selected as a second alternate.
Burns has seven sacks this season, which is a bit of a fall from the 12.5 sacks he had in the 2022 season. His leadership on the team has helped the team rank in the top five for the fewest yards allowed on defense.
Johnny Hekker
Panthers punter Johnny Hekker narrowly missed the Pro Bowl last season and might have the same fate this year. Hekker was chosen as a third alternate.
Hekker's stats dropped in yards per punt, net yards per punt, and punts inside the 20-yard line from 2022 to 2023. This year, Hekker is just 16th, 11th, and 18th in those categories, respectively. In 2022, Hekker ranked in the top 10 in each category and was selected as a first alternate.
Hekker has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times and is a four-time first-team All-Pro.
JJ Jansen
JJ Jansen remains one of the unsung heroes on the Panthers as the team's long-time long-snapper. Jansen was selected as a third alternate in his 15th year with the team.
Jansen already owns the Panthers franchise record for most games started -- he'll have 243 consecutive starts after Week 18's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jansen was last selected for the Pro Bowl in 2013.