On Tuesday, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew was chosen to take part in this year’s Pro Bowl Games as a replacement player.
It was a surprising selection, especially given the fact that Minshew wasn’t exactly impressive this season.
What is even more surprising is the fact that Buffalo Bills signal-caller Josh Allen, who is considered by many to be an elite player, is not a Pro Bowler this season.
Geoff Schwartz seemed to sum up everyone’s feelings in a tweet about the two Pro Bowl decisions, openly wondering how this is even possible.
Gardner Minshew is a Pro Bowl QB
Josh Allen is not a Pro Bowl QBI do not understand how that is possible https://t.co/VHBNWUOjUX
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 30, 2024
In four prior NFL seasons, Minshew had started 24 of the 32 games he had played in, but few thought of him as a starting-caliber QB on a winning team.
The Colts signed him as a free agent this past offseason, and when the season started, he was expected to be a backup behind Anthony Richardson, who was the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft.
But when Richardson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5, Minshew was forced to start the rest of the way.
His stats — 3,305 passing yards, 15 touchdown passes, nine interceptions, and a 62.2 percent completion rate — didn’t blow anyone out of the water, but Indianapolis won six of eight games in November and December, giving them a legitimate shot at making the playoffs heading into Week 18.
In that final regular season game, which took place versus the Houston Texans, Minshew went just 13 of 24 as the Colts lost by four points, while Texans rookie sensation C.J. Stroud completed 20 of 26 pass attempts and threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns.
NEXT: Gardner Minshew's Pro Bowl Selection Had Fans Talking