HOUSTON – Texans hard-hitting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, a team captain, defensive signal caller and emotional leader of the NFL’s top-ranked defense, was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time.
Al-Shaair, a former undrafted free agent from Florida Atlantic, leads the Texans with 96 tackles and a career-high eight passes defensed, two quarterback hits, one tackle for a loss, one interception and one fumble recovery. The Texans lead the NFL with 272.3 yards allowed per game and just 16.6 points per contest.
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Al-Shaair was joined by fellow Pro Bowl selections and starters in the annual all-star selection by defensive end Will Anderson Jr., All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. and wide receiver Nico Collins.
Anderson was named a starter in the Pro Bowl for the first time. He has acareer-high 11 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for losses. He ranks fifth in the AFC in sacks and fourth in tackles for losses. He has the third-most quarterback pressures with 79 in the NFL and the second-highest quarterback pressure rate, a 20.9 percentage, per Next Gen Stats.
Collins was named to back to back Pro Bowls, the first time that has happened in franchise history since DeAndre Hopkins. Collins ranks seventh in the NFL and seconds in the AFC with 1,060 receiving yards. He has 68 catches and six touchdown catches. Collins, Hopkins and Andre Johnson are the only players in franchise history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Stingley has four interceptions, including the first pick-six of his career Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. He has 13 passes defensed. He has 44 passes defensed since 2023, the most by an NFL player during that span.
The Texans had three alternates for the Pro Bowl: first alternates in cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safety Calen Bullock, who have four interceptions apiece, and fifth alternate in nickel Jalen Pitre, who has four interceptions.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com