Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson has been added to the NFL Pro Bowl fan ballot after being snubbed at first by the league.
Jackson leads the NFL with six interceptions, was added to the fan ballot for the Pro Bowl on Wednesday after initially being left off.
Fan voting for the Pro Bowl began Tuesday, and Jackson’s absence created a buzz on social media, highlighting the process by which players land on the ballot.
The NFL asks teams to submit 11 players on offense, 11 players on defense and five special-teamers for the ballot. The Patriots, as is their standard procedure over the years, initially submitted their base defense with a front seven and four defensive backs.
Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore and veteran Jason McCourty are starters at cornerback, so Jackson wasn’t part of the list the Patriots initially submitted.
The Patriots reached out to the NFL on Wednesday morning and requested a switch to a nickel defense, removing a linebacker and adding Jackson.