The Jacksonville Jaguars turned heads last year with a meteoric rise to the playoffs after a dismal 2-6 start to the season.  Not surprisingly, given the terrible start, the team was one of two (Chicago Bears) to not have a player selected to the Pro Bowl when the rosters were originally announced.  

The Jaguars did end up with two players selected as replacements after players bowed out due to injury.  Trevor Lawrence and Jamal Agnew were ultimately tabbed, with Agnew replacing Baltimore's Devin Duvernay as a return specialist. 

Now, the Jaguars are a popular sleeper pick after their late season run, and as a result they will garner attention they haven't had in recent years.  As such, it's a prime opportunity for players to shine and earn some accolades.  

Who are the most likely players to earn Pro Bowl honors for the first time in their respective careers this fall?  

1) Calvin Ridley

It's amazing that Ridley didn't make a Pro Bowl in Atlanta, especially in 2020, when he was selected as a second-team All-Pro.  He had 90 catches for 1374 yards and 9 touchdowns that season.  

After being suspended for over a year, he returns in a prime situation to succeed in Jacksonville with a talented quarterback and plenty of offensive talent to take the focus off him.  If he can step back in to where he was in Atlanta, the sky is the limit.  Davante Adams recently included Ridley in his top 5 receivers in the league.  Players already know and respect him, and they also vote on the Pro Bowl.  That helps. 

2) Travis Etienne

Flashy plays get people talking, and Etienne is more than capable of producing them.  His 5.1 ypc average last year was second only to Aaron Jones and Tony Pollard among backs with at least 190 carries.  

If he can get in the ballpark with his numbers, then he can absolutely be in the conversation in December for Pro Bowl honors. With 1125 rushing yards and 316 receiving yards last year, he's capable of taking a step forward to reaching a total that would give him a shot (1400+ rushing yards; 1800+ total yards from scrimmage).  Etienne's usage will need to be more consistent than it was in 2022, when he totaled 10 carries or less in 8 of 17 regular season games.  That won't cut it against competition like Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Jonathan Taylor, and Nick Chubb.  

3. Tyson Campbell

The Georgia product was very solid last season in his sophomore campaign.  With an 80.8 overall defensive grade and 80.7 coverage mark, per Pro Football Focus, it was a substantial improvement from his rookie season.  

While Campbell was strong in his coverage skills (60.9% completion rate and 86.0 rating for opposing QBs), it's going to take impact plays to get the attention he deserves.  Interceptions will likely be the key to getting a nod, even if that's the wrong metric to go by (spoiler: it is).  

It didn't do him any favors last year, as he had the same or more interceptions than each member of the AFC Pro Bowl CB roster, but if he can increase that total from three to five and produce another high defensive grade, then perhaps 2023 could be the year he gets the nod. 

Calvin Ridley can be a role model for the Jaguars in more than one way

The Jacksonville wide receiver, reinstated in March from a gambling suspension, can be a helping figure beyond just the football field

Featured image via Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK