Adrian Peterson has one last game to put a bow on his 2012 season.
NFC Pro Bowl roster 2013: Adrian Peterson leads the way for NFC
In what could be the last Pro Bowl game ever, Minnesota’s running back is the NFC’s star heading into the game Sunday.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Peterson had a career year this season, rushing for a league-high 2,097 yards and almost setting an NFL record. He had 12 touchdowns in 16 games, and averaged 131 yards per game. He helped the Vikings into the playoffs, where they lost to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round.
Peterson will be joined in the backfield by Seattle's Marshawn Lynch and Tampa Bay rookie Doug Martin. Martin replaced Frank Gore, who will be playing in the Super Bowl next weekend with the San Francisco 49ers.
While the running backs have stayed fairly consistent since the rosters were originally announced, it's been a merry-go-round for the quarterbacks. Originally, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, Atlanta's Matt Ryan and Washington's Robert Griffin III were named to the team. But since then, everyone's dropped like flies.
Rodgers, Ryan and RGIII are out. New Orleans' Drew Brees, the New York Giants' Eli Manning and Seattle's Russell Wilson will take their places Sunday.
Here’s the NFC’s full roster, including players originally named to the team:
Quarterback
x-Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
x-Matt Ryan, Atlanta
y-Drew Brees, New Orleans
y-Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants
x-Robert Griffin III, Washington
y-Russell Wilson, Seattle
Running back
*-Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Marshawn Lynch, Seattle
y-Doug Martin, Tampa Bay
z-Frank Gore, San Francisco
Fullback
*-Jerome Felton, Minnesota
Wide receiver
x-Calvin Johnson, Detroit
x-Brandon Marshall, Chicago
*-Julio Jones, Atlanta
*-Victor Cruz, N.Y. Giants
y-Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
y-Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay
Tight end
x-Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta
y-Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota
Jason Witten, Dallas
Tackle
z-Joe Staley, San Francisco
*-Russell Okung, Seattle
y-Jermon Bushrod, New Orleans
x-Trent Williams, Washington
y-Matt Kalil, Minnesota
Guard
z-Mike Iupati, San Francisco
y-Josh Sitton, Green Bay
*-Jahri Evans, New Orleans
Chris Snee, N.Y. Giants
Center
*-Max Unger, Seattle
Jeff Saturday, Green Bay
DefenseDefensive end
*-Jason Pierre-Paul, N.Y. Giants
*-Julius Peppers, Chicago
Jared Allen, Minnesota
Interior linemen
z-Justin Smith, San Francisco
*-Henry Melton, Chicago
y-Ndamukong Suh, Detroit
Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay
Outside linebacker
z-Aldon Smith, San Francisco
x-DeMarcus Ware, Dallas
x-Clay Matthews, Green Bay
y-Chad Greenway, Minnesota
y-Ryan Kerrigan, Washington
y-Anthony Spencer, Dallas
Inside/Middle linebacker
y-Daryl Washington, Arizona
y-London Fletcher, Washington
z-Patrick Willis, San Francisco
z-NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco
Cornerback
*-Charles Tillman, Chicago
*-Tim Jennings, Chicago
Patrick Peterson, Arizona
Free safety
z-Dashon Goldson, San Francisco
Earl Thomas, Seattle
y-Thomas DeCoud, Atlanta
Strong safety
z-Donte Whitner, San Francisco
y-William Moore, Atlanta
Special teamsPunter
Thomas Morstead, New Orleans
Placekicker
Blair Walsh, Minnesota
Kick returner
Leon Washington, Seattle
Special-teamer
Lorenzo Alexander, Washington
Long snapper
Don Muhlbach, Detroit
*-denotes starter
x-denotes out because of injury
y-denotes replacement for injured or Super Bowl player
z-will not play; Super Bowl participant
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