As the league and its fans gear up for the Pro Bowl Games, many players continue to withdraw. The latest name to make the list is New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields, who made a clear choice this offseason. He wants to prioritize long-term preparation instead of a short showcase. Since Fields’ selection was itself out of the blue, considering his lackluster performance, his decision to move away does make sense. It comes after C.J. Stroud made a similar move.

“One note before the Pro Bowl Games on Tuesday: #Jets QB Justin Fields was asked to participate, I’m told,” NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted on X. He declined, focusing on his offseason training.”

Rapoport’s update makes it clear that Fields won’t suit up for the Pro Bowl Games, which will be held on February 3 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. His decision to opt out is likely due to how horribly the 2025 season went for the 26-year-old signal-caller. In his first year with the Jets, he held a 2-7 record as a starter. Fields finished the campaign, completing 62.7 percent of 204 passes for 1,259 yards. 

He recorded just seven touchdowns and one interception, while his 6.2 yards per attempt marked the lowest figure of his career. Those numbers have fueled expectations that the Jets will ship him, just one year after they locked him in for a two-year, $40 million deal. However, that won’t likely ‌happen as parting ways with Field would save the franchise only around $1 million against his $23 million cap hit, per Spotrac.

Back at the Pro Bowl event, the league’s invitation to Fields isn’t the only move that caught many off guard. The selections of rookie QB Shedeur Sanders and 41-year-old Joe Flacco also raised eyebrows. Meanwhile, the AFC quarterback group has been chaotic. Josh Allen exited due to injury, while Justin Herbert turned down the offer. Unsurprisingly, Drake Maye won’t play because he has a bigger mission to accomplish on February 8.

Ultimately, Joe Burrow and Flacco will represent the AFC. Over at the NFC, the fans won’t get to see star QB Matthew Stafford after he withdrew for unspecified reasons. Interestingly, Justin Fields, Herbert, and Stafford aren’t the only QBs to pass on the opportunity.

C.J. Stroud chooses preparation over Pro Bowl appearance

Despite putting together a powerful regular season with over 3000 passing yards, C.J. Stroud’s postseason run fell short. The Houston Texans quarterback posted six sacks, five interceptions, and only two touchdowns. These were against the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers. And the dull performance has weighed on Stroud’s recent decision about appearing in the Pro Bowl games.

“#Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was invited to #ProBowlGames per a league source and declined invitation as he prepares for next season,” reporter Aaron Wilson tweeted on X.

His decision is not surprising, given where C.J. Stroud is in his career. He’s entering the third year of his four-year rookie deal with Houston. It is worth $36.28 million and carries a dead cap value of $11.54 million. He’s either eyeing a contract extension from his current franchise or planning to move to another team. 

If he fails to impress through his performance, he will have to settle for less money than he expected. And let’s not forget that his breakout year came in 2023, and his production has dipped since then. The sentiments on social media reflect the growing uncertainty about his performance, with users trolling him and scrutinizing his decisions.

While we don’t know how everybody would have reacted had he accepted the Pro Bowl offer, it’s probably for the best. Choosing preparation over the event sends a clear message that C.J. Stroud is focusing on proving his mettle again.