Well, Broncos fans one positive emerged from the New England Patriots advancing to their third straight Super Bowl. It cleared a path for Chris Harris Jr. to head to the Pro Bowl. He joins the AFC squad as a replacement for Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Harris should have been selected in the first place as the arguably the game's most versatile corners. But seven weeks after suffering a marble fracture in his right leg, Harris is healed and ready to represent Denver along with outside linebacker Von Miller, longsnapper Casey Kreiter and running back Phillip Lindsay, who will serve as a social media correspondent after undergoing right wrist surgery a few weeks ago.
"Thanks," Harris told Denver7 after being congratulated on the honor. "I needed that fourth one."
Harris represents one of four undrafted corrnerbacks to make at least four Pro Bowls with his original team. Only Cornell Green and Emmitt Thomas have more in NFL history.
Harris finished with 49 tackles and three interceptions last season before fracturing his right leg on Dec. 2 against the Bengals when he was accidentally leg whipped by a teammate. Pro Football Focus graded Harris as the game's third-best corner behind Gilmore and the Chargers Desmond King III. Harris has one year remaining on his contract, which could make him a candidate for an extension this offseason as the Broncos look to provide cornerstones for coach Vic Fangio's current and future defenses.
