Two Buffalo Bills are headed to the Pro Bowl — for now.
Running back James Cook was selected to his first Pro Bowl Wednesday, while left tackle Dion Dawkins earned his third selection. The Pro Bowl, which now features a series of non-contact skills competitions, will be held Feb. 1 and Feb. 4 in Orlando.
Cook heads into the final week of the regular season third in the NFL with 1,066 yards rushing, becoming the first Bills running back since LeSean McCoy in 2017 to surpass 1,000 yards in a season. The second-year player is also fifth in the league with 1,515 yards from scrimmage, while scoring six touchdowns.
He’s been a key piece in Buffalo’s four-game winning streak, notching 670 yards from scrimmage on 121 touches in seven games since Joe Brady became offensive coordinator, including a career-high 179 yards rushing against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15 that earned him AFC offensive player of the week.
Dawkins is the first Buffalo offensive lineman since Ruben Brown (1996-2003) to be selected to three consecutive Pro Bowls. He is the 24th-ranked offensive tackle in the NFL with 73.7 grade, according to Pro Football Focus, which also has him ranked as the 21st-best pass-blocking tackle in the league (75.9).
Quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs were both named first alternates to the Pro Bowl. Allen was selected in 2020 and 2022 and currently leads the league with 42 total touchdowns, while ranking seventh with 3,947 yards passing and 27 touchdowns.
Allen needs one touchdown to tie O.J. Simpson’s single-season record for rushing touchdowns (16) and is tied with Jalen Hurts for the most by a quarterback in a season in NFL history. He finished fifth in the fan voting behind San Francisco’s Brock Purdy, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Dallas’ Dak Prescott.
Diggs has made the previous three Pro Bowls and has 100 receptions — which is 10th in the NFL this season — for the fourth consecutive season. After not reaching 100 yards in a career-worst 10 games, Diggs is ranked 17th with 1,096 yards. He was eighth among receivers in the fan voting.
Center Mitch Morse and defensive end Leonard Floyd, who leads the team with 10 ½ sacks, were named second alternates. Rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid, who needs three receptions to break Pete Metzelaars’ 30-year-old franchise single-season record for a tight end (68), and defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who has a career-best 9 ½ sacks, are third alternates.
Tight end Dawson Knox was named a fifth alternate.
AFC offense (denotes starter):
Quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins; Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens; Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs. Running back: Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins; James Cook, Buffalo Bills; Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans. Fullback: Alec Ingold, Miami Dolphins. Wide receiver: Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins; Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns; Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers; Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals. Tight end: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs; David Njoku, Cleveland Browns. Tackle: Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans; Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills; Terron Armstead, Miami Dolphins. Guard: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts; Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns; Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs. Center: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs; Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens.
AFC defense:
Defensive end: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns; Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders; Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals. Interior linemen: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs; Quinnen Williams, New York Jets; Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens. Outside linebacker: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers; Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers; Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars.Inside/middle linebacker: Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens; Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens. Cornerback: Pat Surtain
II, Denver Broncos; Sauce Gardner, New York Jets; Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins; Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns. Free safety: Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos; Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers. Strong safety: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens.
AFC special teams:
Long snapper: Ross Matiscik, Jacksonville Jaguars. Punter: A.J. Cole, Las Vegas Raiders. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens. Kick returner: Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos. Special teamer: Miles Killebrew, Pittsburgh Steelers.