A day after being named the Pro Football Writers of America’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. joined the AFC roster for the Pro Bowl Games.

The Texans announced Anderson’s addition to the all-star activities on Wednesday. Anderson replaced Las Vegas defensive end Maxx Crosby, who had knee surgery after the Raiders’ season ended.

Anderson is the seventh Pro Bowler who played at Alabama who received the recognition as a rookie. He joined Derrick Thomas in 1989, Eddie Lacy in 2013, C.J. Mosley in 2014, Amari Cooper in 2015 and Najee Harris and Mac Jones in 2021. Joe Namath went to the AFL All-Star Game after his rookie season in 1965.

After joining Houston as the third pick in the NFL Draft on April 27, Anderson had 45 tackles, seven sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 22 quarterback hits in 15 regular-season games. Anderson helped the Texans win the AFC South with seven more victories in 2023 than they had in 2022, and Houston also won another game in the postseason.

Nine players from Alabama high schools and colleges were originally selected as Pro Bowl Games all-stars for the NFL’s 2023 season:

· Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen (Abbeville)

· Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (Alabama)

· Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson (Alabama)

· Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama)

· Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama)

· Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama)

· Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama)

· Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)

· New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama)

Last week, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown (Auburn) was added to the AFC roster as an injury replacement.

Last season, the NFL eliminated the Pro Bowl game and replaced it with the Pro Bowl Games, a skills competition and flag-football contest for the selected players.

The 7-on-7 flag football game featuring the Pro Bowl players will be held on Feb. 4 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, as the culmination of a multi-day AFC vs. NFC competition in which all-stars will demonstrate their football and non-football skills in a variety of events.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.