NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Alterraun Verner's five interceptions this season are tied for the lead in the AFC, Jurrell Casey's 10.5 sacks are tied for the most by a defensive tackle in the NFL and Kendall Wright is third in the league with 29 receptions on third down, and Delanie Walker has set career highs in catches, yards and TDs.
Will those numbers be enough to land them enough votes from fans, players and coaches for the Pro Bowl?
Voting ended Thursday, and the list of players is set to be announced at 8 p.m. (CT) Friday on NFL Network's NFL Total Access Pro Bowl Players Revealed show and posted on NFL.com.
The Pro Bowl has an entirely new format this season that does not restrict the amount of players selected by conference but does limit the number of overall players by position. Fan votes, player votes and votes by coaches each counted one-third. After the players are announced, they will be drafted by captains next month to play in the Jan. 26 game.
Verner said that type of approval would mean a lot and reflect accomplishments that have been helped by teammates.
"It would mean that my season's been recognized by all that voted. I think it would be good to get somebody from our team into the Pro Bowl," Verner said. "I think that's an accomplishment for everybody. For me to do what I was able to do, it wouldn't have been without the d-line and the linebackers making adjustments and safeties being over the top, and Jason (McCourty) playing the way he's playing allowed me to get a lot of footballs thrown at me, so all that stuff went into allowing me to have this season, so it's a thank you to them."
The Titans haven't had a Pro Bowler since 2010 when Jason Babin, Chris Johnson, Marc Mariani and Michael Griffin were selected.
"We haven't had anybody there in a while, but I think we're going to at least have one," Griffin said. "I'm going with two (Verner and Casey). You never know if you're an alternate, with the playoffs and some people needing new contracts, some people opt not to play in the game so there may be some alternates."
Casey said it would be nice to get that level of recognition but also lamented that he felt he missed about eight sacks for a few different reasons this season.
With 89 receptions for 1,029 yards, Wright is on the verge of becoming the fifth player in Titans/Oilers franchise history to have 90 catches in a season and first since Derrick Mason had 96 in 2004. He said he hadn't thought much about the annual All-Star game.
"If I don't (make it), I'll be ready to put up some good numbers next year," Wright said. "I just want to get better every year. It would be a good thing for me and the Titans, but I'm trying to get better every year and the numbers I had this year, I'm trying to do my best to top that next year."
Titans offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said there's "no doubt" that Wright should be in the Pro Bowl.
"The stuff that he's done on third down, had his career record so far in catches, I think the third down production speaks for itself," Loggains said. "I think the most miscuing stat he has is yards per catch, so you have to separate those guys. I think Kendall is as good as any slot receiver in the National Football League but the lack of touchdowns hurts him because tight ends have caught more, Justin (Hunter) has caught more, Nate (Washington) has caught more."
Wright said he expects former Baylor teammate, Browns receiver Josh Gordon, to make it to the Pro Bowl. Gordon has 80 catches for an NFL-leading 1,564 yards this season.
"It would be a good thing for me, I guess. I haven't thought about it that much at all. I've just been playing," Wright said. "It would be a good thing to play with Josh Gordon. I know he's going. He's done enough and he didn't even play two games this year. It would be good to play with him again."
