Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers and running back DeAngelo Williams were the team’s lone selections to the Pro Bowl.
Peppers was chosen for the fifth time and will start for the NFC. Williams was selected for the first time as a reserve.
Pro Bowl rosters were announced Tuesday night. The game is to be played Jan.31 at Pro Player Stadium near Miami.
Peppers has 101/2 sacks and five forced fumbles heading into Sunday’s season finale against New Orleans. He earned a $1.5million roster bonus by making the Pro Bowl, raising his compensation this season to nearly $18.2million, believed to be the highest of any defensive player.
Williams made the Pro Bowl despite missing 11 quarters of action in December because of ankle injuries. He ranks ninth in the NFL with 1,117 yards rushing.
“I’m pleased and happy to be selected,” Williams said in a statement released by the Panthers. “I really did not know what to expect and it would not have been possible without a lot of help, including (from) our offensive line, (fullback) Brad Hoover and wide receivers who block downfield, and my (position) coach, Jim Skipper.”
