EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - The Vikings saw rookie wide receiver and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson as a potential game-breaker when they chose him in the first round out of Tennessee, and on Friday their selection was vindicated.
Patterson has been added to the the 2014 NFL Pro Bowl roster as a kick returner. He replaces Antonio Brown of Pittsburgh, who was voted to the 2014 Pro Bowl roster at two different positions (wide receiver and return specialist). Because Brown received more Pro Bowl votes at the WR position, he will participate in the game as a receiver.
The elusive rookie set the Vikings team record for kickoff return yards (1,393), kickoff return average (32.4) and tied the team record for kickoff return touchdowns (2), while leading the NFL in all 3 categories. He had 4 receiving TDs, 3 rushing TDs and 2 kickoff-return TDs, the only player in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
Patterson, who joins Adrian Peterson as Vikings selected to the 2014 Pro Bowl, was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 8 after setting the NFL record for longest kickoff return with a 109-yard TD against the Packers. He was also named the Offensive Rookie of the Month for December after scoring 6 TDs (3 rushing, 3 receiving) in the month, 3rd most in the NFL.
The Vikings say Patterson is the 7th team rookie all-time to be selected to the Pro Bowl joining Chuck Foreman (1973), Randy Moss (1998), Adrian Peterson (2007), Percy Harvin (2009) Blair Walsh (2012) and Matt Kalil (2012).
