First-timer Bobby Wagner highlights Seahawks’ All-Pro choices

RENTON, Wash. – Bobby Wagner figured spending five games as a spectator because of injury – part of that time with his foot in a cast and moving around on a scooter – that postseason honors would likely wait another year.

Turned out that when he was healthy, Wagner’s play as Seattle’s starting middle linebacker was too impressive not to be recognized.

Wagner was one of three Seahawks to be voted to the Associated Press All-Pro first team on Friday. He was joined on the first team by two familiar names: cornerback Richard Sherman and free safety Earl Thomas. It’s the third straight season that both Sherman and Thomas have been first-team selections, but the first time Wagner has been honored.

“I didn’t necessarily think it was out of the window, I just set new goals basically,” Wagner told the AP. “When I was hurt, I had a lot of time to think. So my whole mindset was if I was going to continue to get what I wanted to get out of this season I was going to have to come back and continue to be the player I was before I got hurt or be better than I was and really try and impact the team in a positive way as much as I could. That was my goal.”

Wagner tore the tendon connecting his big toe and the base of his foot in Week 6 against Dallas. His return coincided with Seattle’s six-game win streak to close the season, a stretch during which the defense gave up 39 total points.

Wagner finished the regular season second on the team with 104 tackles.