Hours away from the vote wrapping up, the fan tallies for the NFL Pro Bowl honors were not all that bountiful with Pittsburgh Steelers.
Among 20 positional categories, the Steelers as of 11 a.m. Monday had only three players listed among the top 10 at any given position.
One of those players had played exactly one snap this season at said position. Another is having his least productive season in years. A third is a special teamer.
Ben Skowronek led all candidates in fan voting for “special teams player” in the weekly league update of fan voting that began Nov. 27 and was to conclude at 11:59 p.m. Monday.
T.J. Watt and Connor Heyward ranked fifth in voting among among outside linebackers and fullbacks, respectively.
Watt, who was ruled out of Monday night’s game against the Miami Dolphins because of a lung injury, has seven sacks this season. His career low for any season in which he has played more than 10 games is seven, set as a rookie in 2017.
According to Pro Football Focus, Heyward has played one snap in the backfield this season. Heyward is listed as a tight end and plays extensively on special teams. Heyward also has taken direct snaps as the ball carrier for the Steelers’ “tush push” play calls this season.
Fan voting counts for one-third of roster selection for the Pro Bowl Games, which will take place the week before the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif., and does no longer feature a true tackle football game.
Coach and player tallies account for the other two-thirds of player selection.
Last season’s Pro Bowl rosters featured four Steelers as “starters” — Watt, kicker Chris Boswell, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward.