In 2015, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short earned his first-ever trip to the Pro Bowl - Only to never make it, as he had earned the right to play in Super Bowl 50 instead. Three seasons later, the opportunity to play in the Pro Bowl has now come back to Short by virtue of another player going to Atlanta instead of Orlando.

On Monday, the Panthers announced that Kawann Short has been named to the 2019 Pro Bowl roster, replacing Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Donald will not participate in the game by virtue of the Rams' victory in the NFC Championship Game, advancing them to Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots. Short will join right guard Trai Turner as a representative for the Panthers, and the two may also be joined by running back Christian McCaffrey, who is a second-alternate to the game.

Short, who has earned a reputation as being one of the top interior defensive linemen in the league, will now go to the Pro Bowl despite not having had a spectacular year by his standards: Playing on a defensive line that struggled heavily throughout the 2018 season, Short posted only 42 tackles and three sacks - The lowest amount he has had in a season since 2014. However, there was more to Short's production than met the stat sheet: 12 of Short's tackles were for loss, which tied for fourth among defensive tackles around the league during the 2018 season. In addition, Short also had one forced fumble.

Despite that production, Short hadn't managed to consistently accomplish what the Panthers had been accustomed to by late in the season: Him winning his one-on-one battles at the point of attack.

"He's been a factor collapsing the pocket, but we're so used to seeing him winning decisively as a one-on-one rusher," said defensive coordinator Eric Washington prior to Week 15. "So he and I actually had sat down, and we looked at some things, and you're constantly tweaking even great players. Just showing them things that they can get back to, that they can focus on. And a lot of it is just some of the core fundamentals that it takes to really win when you're in a position."

Though Washington believed that Short was on the verge of a breakthrough by that time, Short would instead suffer an injury to his calf, which he played though in Week 15 before sitting out the final two games of the season. It is unclear whether or not Short's calf will affect his Pro Bowl status.

Short's Pro Bowl selection is the second of his career, and he will be eligible to play in the game for the first time after he did not participate in the Pro Bowl for the 2015 season due to the Panthers making the Super Bowl. Short was also named a Second-Team All-Pro in 2015.