For the 10th time in his 12-year career, Jason Witten is headed back to the Pro Bowl.
Witten was added to the Pro Bowl roster on Sunday after Denver's Julius Thomas pulled out of the game with an injury.
However, while Witten is the eighth Cowboys player to be named to the Pro Bowl, the club will likely have just seven playing in the game. Wide receiver Dez Bryant will not play due to a groin injury. Bryant's injury apparently occurred late in the Packers' playoff game but it's not likely he would've had problems playing in the NFC Championship Game. Not playing in the Pro Bowl seems to be more precautionary for Bryant, who like teammate DeMarco Murray, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Murray is likely one of the first Cowboys players arriving in Phoenix for next Sunday's game. The NFL's leading rusher is one of four captains designated by the league.
The Cowboys' list of players expected to play are Witten, Murray, Tony Romo, Zack Martin, Travis Frederick, Tyron Smith and L.P. Ladouceur, who was added this weekend as a "need" player, selected by the Ravens' staff.
Witten is now tied for second on the Cowboys' all-time list of Pro Bowl with 10, joining Hall of Famers Mel Renfro and Larry Allen. The trio is behind only Bob Lilly, who leads all players in franchise history with 11 Pro Bowl trips.
After missing the Pro Bowl his rookie season in 2003, Witten made seven straight selections from 2004-2010. After missing out in 2011, Witten has now made it to three straight.
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This past season, Witten caught just 64 passes, his fewest single-season total since 2006. He also had just 703 yards, his lowest total since his rookie year of just 347.
But while Witten spent more time in the backfield as a blocker, helping the Cowboys have the second-best rushing attack in the league, he still caught five touchdown passes.
And down the stretch, Witten was even more of a valuable receiver for Romo, catching 29 balls in the last five regular-season games. In the playoffs, he caught five and six balls against Detroit and Green Bay, respectively.
Ironically, Witten was added to the Pro Bowl roster Monday on the same day as former teammate Martellus Bennett, who backed him up the first four years of his career. Bennett caught 90 balls for 916 yards this year.
