Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack will skip the Pro Bowl, as expected.
A Bears rival will take his place: Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith.
Smith had 131⁄2 sacks in his first season with the Packers, which ranked sixth-most in the NFL. He was first among linebackers with 37 hits and second with 50 pressures during the regular season.
The Packers said Mack was replaced because of injury. But his absence is no surprise. He skipped last year’s all-star game because of injury and didn’t want to commit to playing in this year’s game after being voted in, in mid-December. He said “next question” three-straight times when asked if he’d play.
The Bears will send three players to the game, which takes place Sunday in Orlando, Fla.: special teams standout Cordarrelle Patterson, safety Eddie Jackson and cornerback Kyle Fuller.
