The Pro Bowl is out, the Pro Bowl Games are in, and it was interesting if nothing else. Which as anyone watching the traditional Pro Bowl can attest, is at least an improvement.
All four Detroit Lions Pro Bowlers participated in the first day of festivities on Thursday night, with quarterback Jared Goff up first in the precision passing drill. Goff hasn’t thrown much since the Lions wrapped up their season in Green Bay last month, not that it showed in Las Vegas. He opened the drill on fire, nailing four of his first five throws -- all at the furthest stationary targets -- and was one of only three quarterbacks to strike the five-point target that was being towed by a drone high above the field.
But Goff struggled with the one-point check-downs and didn’t hit either of the four-point targets that were racing up the field on go routes. He finished with 20 points overall, which ranked a respectable third among quarterbacks. Only Las Vegas’ Derek Carr (31 points) and Baltimore’s Tyler Huntley (21 points) had more.
Seattle’s Geno Smith (20 points), Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence (19 points) and Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins (14 points) rounded out the field.
Lions center Frank Ragnow and Penei Sewell didn’t have as much luck in the lightning round, a three-part elimination challenge that began with a water balloon toss. Ragnow and Sewell were the first pair to be eliminated, with Sewell catching the first toss, but the next blowing up in Ragnow’s face.
The highlight of the night was Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who competed in the best catch drill. He teamed up with former NFL quarterback Jimmy Clausen to catch two footballs in the Blu Pool at the Horseshoe Las Vegas, the deepest pool in Sin City.
St. Brown ran across a series of pads to catch the first ball while falling into the pool, then did a flip off a diving board before catching another. Fan voting will determine whether he advances to the finals on Sunday. Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs and Denver’s Pat Surtain also participated.
St. Brown is also scheduled to participate in the flag football game on Sunday, along with Goff and Ragnow. Sewell will participate in the gridiron gauntlet, a relay race that includes climbing walls, ducking tables, navigating a tire run and pushing a blocking sled. Ragnow will participate in a 10-yard wall pull.
Coverage begins at 3 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.
Ad Choices