Kene Nwangwu Pro Bowl Snubbed Rookie

The full Pro Bowl rosters for the AFC and NFC were revealed Wednesday night, as 44 players represent each conference on the initial roster.

The Vikings had three players — Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook and Harrison Smith — that were announced as Pro Bowl selections before Minnesota’s win on Monday Night Football.

But Nick Shook of NFL.com believes there was a glaring omission for the Vikings on the NFC squad.

Shook released his list of Pro Bowls snubs on Wednesday night and included rookie Kene Nwangwu, who missed out on being picked as the conference’s return specialist.

Shook made his case for Nwangwu:

The Bears Jakeem Grant earned the Pro Bowl nod for NFC returner, a product of two key factors: He has one return touchdown (scored on national TV, on a punt by the Packers) and he has a reputation as an explosive returner. Votes at positions like this one in the Pro Bowl (and other pro sports leagues’ all-star games) can come down to name recognition, and Grant certainly carries that.

But if you’ve paid attention to the return game this season, you know the more deserving candidate is Nwangwu, a rookie running back who has proven to be a potent weapon as a returner. Vikings fans are quickly falling for Nwangwu, who has taken two kicks back for touchdowns and done them the hard way, covering 98 and 99 yards. And get this: He’s only returned 12 kicks all year.

That means Nwangwu is taking a kick back for a touchdown at a rate of 16.7 percent, while he’s averaging 37.2 yards per kick return. Grant is averaging 24.2 yards per kick return and 12.8 per punt return since being traded from Miami to Chicago in October. I think my work here is done.