Because he had surgery on an injury, Saints right guard Jahri Evans won’t be able to play in the Pro Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 25.
Advocate file photo by PATRICK DENNIS — Saints G Jahri Evans
Colton wouldn’t confirm or deny whether Evans’ surgery addressed back, hamstring or groin problems that sidelined him for two games in 2013, his lone pair of absences both in the NFL and for the Saints. But Colton said Evans played through the injury in 2014, when the Saints finished 7-9 and fell short of the postseason.
Colton also said Evans would be able to fully participate in the Saints’ offseason conditioning program in the spring.
ESPN’s Mike Triplett first reported that Colton had revealed Evans had surgery on an injury, the nature of which he didn’t disclose.
Evans was the only Saints player aside from tight end Jimmy Graham initially chosen for the NFL’s upcoming all-star game. It was Evans’ sixth-straight Pro Bowl invitation; but, due to his health, he will be replaced by Philadelphia guard Evan Mathis, the Eagles announced Wednesday morning.
Evans, coincidentally, is from Philadelphia.
A fourth-round draft choice out of small school Bloomsburg University for the Saints in 2006, the year New Orleans hired coach Sean Payton, Evans has been invited to the second-most Pro Bowls among offensive lineman in franchise history. Ex-Saints tackle Willie Roaf is the sole offensive lineman who was invited to more Pro Bowls than Evans has been.
Evans, 31, has started 142 out of a possible 144 regular-season games for the Saints as well as 10 playoff contests, including New Orleans’ victory in Super Bowl XLIV on Feb. 7, 2010. Two other postseason starts for Evans were in 2013, when he worked through his injuries to help the Saints reach the divisional round of the playoffs.
Evans cracked the Associated Press’ All-Pro First Team each year from 2009-12. Last year, he earned Second Team All-Pro merits.
The veteran guard received a pair of votes to be an All-Pro this season but did not make either the first or second teams for the first time since 2008.