There was one positive Pittsburgh Steelers' fans can take from the Cincinnati Bengals' berth in Super Bowl LVI. Pittsburgh running back Najee Harris and receiver Diontae Johnson will replace Bengals running back Joe Mixon and Cincinnati receiver Ja'Marr Chase in the 2022 Pro Bowl, which will be played in Las Vegas on Feb. 6.
The 24th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Harris broke Le'Veon Bell and Franco Harris' rookie franchise records. The former Alabama standout rushed for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns and amassed 1,667 all-purpose yards. He ran for a season-high 188 yards that included a 37-yard touchdown run in Ben Roethlisberger's final home game, a 26-14 win over the Browns in Week 17.
Johnson will head to his first Pro Bowl after leading the Steelers this season with 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. A 2019 third round pick out of Toledo, Johnson caught five passes in Pittsburgh's last seven games that included Roethlisberger's final touchdown pass at Heinz Field. Johnson was extremely consistent last season, as he caught at least five passes in all but one game. He caught eight passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh's Week 13 win over Baltimore.
While they would surely rather be playing in the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl is a nice consolation prize for Harris and Johnson, who will join defensive teammates Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt in Las Vegas. Among other teams, Pittsburgh will have to get past Mixon, Chase and the rest of the Bengals next season if they want to have a chance at representing the AFC in Super Bowl LVII.
