Chargers RB Melvin Gordon is Officially a Pro Bowler

With the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell unable to play following his groin injury sustained in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game in New England, Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is getting the call. Not since Ryan Mathews was selected following the 2012 season have the Chargers had a running back in the Pro Bowl.

Gordon will be the second Chargers player named to this year’s team as Casey Hayward was already making the trip to Orlando.

Thanks to a breakout season in which he vastly outpaced his disappointing rookie campaign, Gordon was an easy choice to replace the injured Bell. Despite missing three games at the end of the season, Gordon was able to carry the ball 254 times for 997 yards and 10 touchdowns while also hauling in 41 receptions for 419 yards and another pair of touchdowns.

Gordon’s emergence as one of the league’s most productive runners was especially impressive given that he underwent microfracture knee surgery last offseason. This year, he’ll be playing in the Pro Bowl instead.