Kenny Golladay leads NFL receivers with 10 touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to get him to the Pro Bowl.
When the rosters were announced Tuesday night, Golladay lost out to Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, and Tampa Bay’s duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. He was forced to settle with being the NFC's third alternate.
All good, he said.
"If I would’ve made it, that’s great. Huge accomplishment," said Golladay. "But like I said, it’s still an honor just being mentioned in it."
Still, he had a case to be selected. On top of his touchdowns, Golladay ranks first among NFC receivers in yards per catch, second in catches of 20 yards or more, and 8th in total yards. He's turned 80 percent of his catches into first downs, which ranks third in the NFC.
Maybe most impressively, Golladay hasn't slowed down in the absence of Matthew Stafford. In six games with Jeff Driskel and David Blough, he's caught four touchdowns and amassed over 400 yards. And that's in an offense where he's the first guy to stop.
Yeah, he said, this snub will serve as fuel.
"I feel like I’m just still flying under the radar right now, which is cool with me. Just try to look forward to something for next year," said Golladay.
"That's good," he said.
There's a chance Golladay winds up on the field in Orlando, anyway. Evans and Godwin are currently sidelined with injuries, and Thomas and the Saints could be playing deep into January. The Pro Bowl is held the weekend of the conference championships.
Golladay would join Darius Slay as representatives for the Lions. Slay made his third Pro Bowl in a row this season, after feeling like he was overlooked early in his career. It wasn't until he led the league in both picks and passes defended in 2016 that he got his due.
Maybe it will take another big year for Golladay earn the same.
"Really, I’m just gonna continue to do me," he said. "Go out there and make plays."
The rest will take care of itself.