One of the unlikely breakout stars of the 2021 NFL season has missed out on Pro Bowl honors.
Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson, a four-time Pro Bowler, was denied what would have been his fifth career nod despite enjoying what has been by most accounts a career year, albeit an unlikely and unforeseen one. Instead, Patterson was named an alternate on special teams.
The longtime special-teams maven and return specialist finally got his shot at a featured role on offense this season, mostly serving as a pass-catching back out of the backfield, and it paid off with over 1,000 yards combined rushing and receiving, plus an impressive 10 touchdowns.
In addition to helping make the Falcons surprisingly competitive this season, Patterson surely helped decide the fate of more than a few fantasy leagues.
Football fans and journalists on social media registered their disappointment at the snub.