On Tuesday, Buffalo Bills rookie safety Jairus Byrd was named to the 2010 AFC Pro Bowl squad. Despite that honor, Byrd will not be able to play in the game, as he's recovering from recent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip.
While Byrd won't be playing, Buffalo might still have representation on the field in Miami yet. Kyle Williams, a four-year veteran defensive tackle, has been named an AFC Pro Bowl alternate. The news comes via Williams' agent, Albert Elias of Elias Sports Management.
Williams is having an excellent season, having set career highs in tackles (59) and sacks (3) to this point in the season, despite missing all or part of four games. Williams was an afterthought when the Bills selected him in the fifth round in 2006 out of LSU, but he has blossomed into a consistent, sturdy player at the professional level. This is quite the honor for him, particularly since he's playing between bigger-name players such as Aaron Schobel and Marcus Stroud.
Williams will not play in Miami unless one of the AFC's interior line representatives - this year, that's Haloti Ngata, Vince Wilfork and Casey Hampton - cannot play. Congratulations, Kyle!