Two stars from the NY Jets’ defense were named as Pro Bowl starters for the 2023 season
Two-star players from the New York Jets are officially heading back to the Pro Bowl.
During the announcement of the Pro Bowl Games, which take place in Orlando, Flordia, cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams were named starters.
BACK-TO-BACK FOR BOTH @iamSauceGardner & @QuinnenWilliams ‼️
Sauce and Q have been named #ProBowlGames starters! ➜ https://t.co/rTKQkN30r7 pic.twitter.com/ZHTGwegdsJ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 4, 2024
It is the second straight Pro Bowl for both players, who have had great 2023 seasons.
Williams joins Hall-of-Famer Joe Klecko and John Abraham as the only Jets’ defensive linemen to make the Pro Bowl in two consecutive seasons.
Gardner is now the second Jet in franchise history to make the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons. He is also the third cornerback in NFL history to make the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons.
Joe Klecko, John Abraham and now @QuinnenWilliams
Good company. pic.twitter.com/C6DBid6B1l
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 4, 2024
The doubters only fuel @iamSauceGardner ✈️ pic.twitter.com/NuqGUUUQEu
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 4, 2024
Williams, who was an All-Pro last season, has once again been a force in all aspects of the game this season.
Even with a smaller sack total of four, Williams has generated 64 pressures, 12 more than he did last season. The defensive tackle has been even better in the run game, single-handedly causing havoc for opposing teams in 2023.
Gardner, who also was an All-Pro in 2022, has turned in another elite season. The Cincinnati product has only allowed 251 receiving yards and has nine pass breakups. He also has only been targeted 50 times, a drop from the 73 targets he saw in 2022.
Other players on the Jets’ defense, such as linebacker Quincy Williams, cornerback D.J Reed, and cornerback Michael Carter, had strong cases to be named to the starting roster.
While multiple Jets deserved the honor of making the Pro Bowl, the two players who made it were more than deserving. If the Jets have the season they hope to have in 2024, there should be more players representing the team in the games next season.
