Andrew Luck Named 2019 Pro Bowl Replacement for Injured Philip Rivers

A year ago, no one knew whether Andrew Luck would ever play football again.

Now, he's a Pro Bowler.

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback was named as Philip Rivers' replacement for the AFC roster Tuesday. Rivers withdrew due to an undisclosed injury.

Luck threw for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns against 15 interceptions during the regular season. His being left off the roster initially was considered perhaps the biggest Pro Bowl snub.

Luck missed the entire 2017 season due to a shoulder injury that required him spend time in Europe for experimental treatment. Having initially undergone surgery in January 2017, Luck was unable to properly throw a football for more than a year and seemed to struggle with his confidence throwing downfield early in the season. 

That changed in a major way in the second half, with Luck arguably playing the best football of his career while leading the Colts to an AFC Wild Card berth. Sporting News named him the 2018 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, an award voted on by his peers.

“I just think I threw the ball better,” Luck told reporters. “I think I learned to manage situations better, I think in the odd sort of a self-preservation of a quarterback, that maybe that mentality, I think I did that better.”

Luck has been named to the Pro Bowl four times. He was named to the team in 2012-2014 before missing out each of the previous three seasons.