ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos guard Zane Beadles and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas were selected to represent the AFC in their first career Pro Bowls, the NFL announced on Monday.
Beadles and Thomas will replace Patriots guard Logan Mankins and wide receiver Wes Welker, who will not play in the game due to injuries.
Beadles, who started all 16 games for the Broncos at left guard in 2012, allowed just one sack on the season and finished the year as the only player on the team to play every offensive or defensive snap.
The third-year player joins Keith Bishop (1986-87) and Mark Schlereth (1998) as the only three offensive guards in team history to be selected to the Pro Bowl.
Thomas ranked fourth in the NFL with 1,434 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 94 catches (15.3 avg.), while opening all 16 games for the Broncos in 2012. His 1,434 yards were the third-most by a player in franchise history.
Thomas is the ninth wide receiver in team history to be named to the Pro Bowl, joining Brandon Lloyd (2010), Brandon Marshall (2008-09), Rod Smith (2000-01, ’05), Ed McCaffrey (1998), Anthony Miller (1995), Rick Upchurch (1976, ’78-79, ’82), Steve Watson (1981) and Haven Moses (1973).
The selections of Beadles and Thomas bring Denver’s Pro Bowl total to seven players, as the pair joins cornerback Champ Bailey, tackle Ryan Clady, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, quarterback Peyton Manning and linebacker Von Miller as the Broncos’ representatives.
The league’s annual All-Star Game will be played on Sunday at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu at 5 p.m. MST. The game will be televised nationally on NBC.