Nick Bosa, George Kittle headline 49ers’ Pro Bowl starters, eight alternates

The 49ers had 12 players recognized for the Pro Bowl, though they only had four starters despite being tied for the best record in the NFC with an 11-3 record.

Tight end George Kittle, defensive end Nick Bosa, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and cornerback Richard Sherman were selected as starters through voting by fans, players and coaches, the NFL announced Tuesday.

San Francisco had eight alternates: defensive linemen Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, running back and special teams standout Raheem Mostert, center Weston Richburg, tackle Joe Staley, safety Jimmie Ward and linebacker Fred Warner were selected as alternates.

The Pro Bowl is slated for the week before the Super Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Obviously, the 49ers would rather be preparing for the Super Bowl in Miami a week later.

It marks the second consecutive season Kittle received the honor. The fifth-round draft pick in 2017 has 888 yards in 12 games, which is tied for third among tight ends with Philadelphia Eagles star Zach Ertz (Kittle’s 74.0 yards per game ranks second). Kittle has 2,780 yards, the most ever by a tight end in his first three seasons. He surpassed Hall of Famer Mike Ditka for that record in the second half Sunday against the Falcons.

Bosa has been a transformative figure for the 49ers defense and received more fan votes than any other defensive player. His 16 tackles for loss are tied for second in the NFL behind Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald (18). His 6.0 sacks in October led to winning NFC defensive player of the month and he’s a favorite to win defensive rookie of the year. Bosa’s brother, Joey, was also named to the Pro Bowl for the second time with the L.A. Chargers.

Juszczyk, widely considered as the league’s best fullback, made it for the fourth year in a row. He’s a valuable blocker for the league’s second-ranked rushing attack averaging 147.0 yards per game. He’s also caught 18 of his 21 targets in the passing game for 167 yards and a touchdown.

Sherman made it for the fifth time in his storied career and the first time since 2016. He’s first among cornerbacks in allowing 0.54 yards per coverage snap, according to scouting service Pro Football Focus, while San Francisco has been the league’s top passing defense for the majority of the season. His three interceptions lead the team.

Armstead was honored for the first time amid easily the best season of his five-year career. Armstead leads San Francisco’s dominant defensive line with 10.0 sacks after never having more than 3.0. Armstead is also considered an elite run defender who can play defensive tackle and defensive end. The pending free agent could be in for a massive payday in the spring, whether it’s on a new long-term contract or the franchise tag.

Mostert could make it for his work on special teams. But he’s been more than just an ace in the third phase. With 662 yards, he’s also San Francisco’s leading rusher. Mostert has rushing touchdowns in the past four games, becoming the first 49er to do that since Frank Gore in 2011.

Richburg had a bounce-back season after struggling with a painful left leg injury in 2018. He received high marks before going down with a torn right patellar tendon earlier this month against the Saints.

Garoppolo’s 13 starts are the most of his career after going down in September 2018 with a season-ending ACL tear. His 102.8 passer rating ranks eighth, his 26 touchdown passes rank fourth and his completion percentage (69.1) is fifth.

Buckner has been one of San Francisco’s most consistent players. He has 6.5 sacks, 56 tackles and four fumble recoveries. Buckner was a Pro Bowl alternate last season.

Ward has started 11 games at free safety and played well as the “Eraser” in one of the league’s top defenses. Staley, a six-time Pro Bowler, has started just five games this season due to injury. Warner leads San Francisco in tackles and was named the conference defender of the month for November.

This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 5:32 PM.