Pro Bowl: Denver Broncos Tackle Ryan Clady Withdraws from NFL All-Star Game

On Tuesday, Denver Broncos starting left tackle Ryan Clady withdrew from the 2013 NFL Pro Bowl, the team announced. According to Stuart Zaas of DenverBroncos.com, Clady will miss the game due to injury concerns.

Clady will be replaced by Cincinnati Bengals tackle Andrew Whitworth on the AFC roster.

During the Broncos' playoff bye week, Clady missed practice time with an "undisclosed injury" (originally reported by Mike Klis of The Denver Post) that was later revealed to be a minor shoulder ailment.  Clady is likely skipping out on the Hawaiian vacation and All-Star Game to give his shoulder more time to recover.

In 2012, Clady was penalized four times for holding and allowed a team-low one sack, according to STATS.  A free agent this offseason, Clady has no reason to risk further injury in a meaningless game.

After being drafted 12th overall in the 2008 NFL draft, Clady has started all 80 regular-season games the Broncos have played since then and he has been a Pro Bowl selection three times (2009, '11, '12).  In his rookie year, Clady burst into the spotlight when he allowed just 0.5 sacks, solidifying himself as one of the top left tackles in the NFL today.

The 2013 Pro Bowl will be played on Saturday, January 27 and broadcast on NBC.  The AFC squad will be coached by Denver's John Fox and the Broncos coaching staff.