Three Green Bay players were selected to the Pro Bowl by the NFL, the Packers announced Tuesday night. Five others were named first alternates.

Let’s take a look at the Packers who made the cut, and those who missed out:

Pro Bowlers

Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, sixth Pro Bowl: Even though there was plenty of consternation earlier in the season about Rodgers’ supposed performance decline and how he’d fallen from the ranks of the league’s elite quarterbacks, Green Bay’s 33-year-old leader made his third straight Pro Bowl, and not just because of his name or reputation.

Rodgers is currently second in the NFL in touchdowns (32), fifth in passer rating (100.3) and sixth in yards (3,781). Since saying four weeks ago, when the Packers had a 4-6 record, that he thought the team could "run the table" and make the playoffs, Green Bay has won four consecutive games and Rodgers has completed 70.8 percent of his throws for 1,020 yards with seven touchdowns and zero interceptions and a 115.9 average passer rating.

Whether or not the Packers are preparing for the Super Bowl that some are speculating they could suddenly be in contention for again, Rodgers probably won’t play in the NFL’s annual all-star exhibition game. He said earlier this week, "It’s always a good thing to get nominated, but I don’t plan on playing in it."

T.J. Lang, right guard, first Pro Bowl: It’s often said around the league that being selected to a Pro Bowl is often a delayed acknowledgement of a good season the year prior, and Lang’s 2015 was indeed terrific.  

He’s been impressive this season, too; and perhaps more importantly, at least to his quarterback, he’s been "a warrior," dependably playing through multiple injuries and only missing three games after a broken foot earlier in the year. Since 2011, he’s started 97 of a possible 102 games (including playoffs) and has played four different positions, the ultimate utility tough guy.

A Pro Bowl alternate each of the last two seasons but still enormously underrated, Lang is entering the final year of his contract and has been seeking an extension from Ted Thompson and the Packers.  

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, safety, first Pro Bowl: The 2014 first-round pick has steadily improved each of his first three seasons, and it’s culminated in his first Pro Bowl nod. The honor may have already been in the bag, but it couldn’t have hurt that Clinton-Dix had two critical interceptions in Sunday’s win over the Bears just before the voting.

He’s third on the team in tackles, with 72, and tied for the league lead in interceptions by a safety, with five. In a Nov. 6 loss to the Colts, Clinton-Dix also had two interceptions, and he’s been by far the best of an injury-ravaged and beleaguered Green Bay secondary.

Earlier, Rodgers called Clinton-Dix a "no-doubter," a sentiment shared by some podcast prognosticators, who said he’d "cemented his first Pro Bowl."

First alternates

Jordy Nelson, wide receiver: A year after tearing his ACL and missing all of last season, Nelson has bounced back in a big way in 2016 – and recently shown his old, familiar connection with Rodgers.

Nelson leads the team with 82 receptions for 1,037 yards and 12 TDs only a year removed from knee surgery. In Sunday’s game at Chicago, he caught seven passes for 124 yards, including the vital 60-yard bomb from Rodgers that set up Mason Crosby’s game-winning field goal. The week before, he had two touchdowns in the victory over the Seahawks. Nelson has four 100-yard performances this season and 10 games with a touchdown reception.

On Tuesday, Rodgers said, "Jordy has had a great season. He should be comeback player of the year, for sure, with the way he’s bounced back from that ACL and been extremely productive."

David Bakhtiari, left tackle: Rewarded early in the season with a four-year, $48 million contract extension that made him the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid offensive tackle, Bakhtiari proved the move prudent with another excellent year.

Routinely reliable in pass protection on Rodgers’ blind side, Bakhtiari – along with the rest of the offensive line – has been better than ever, given the Packers’ over-dependence on the passing game this season without a rushing attack.

Second alternates

Davante Adams, wide receiver: It’s been a breakout season for Adams – despite his dropping two touchdown passes against the Bears – with 65 receptions for 922 yards and nine scores. He’s had a couple of monstrous games, including 13 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns in Week 7 and six catches for a career-high 156 yards in Week 10.

Mike Daniels, defensive tackle: The fiery, explosive, emotional heart of the Packers’ defense was an alternate last year and made a strong case for selection this season. He has 28 tackles – the most among Green Bay’s defensive linemen – with four tackles for loss and three sacks. He’s anchored a front that’s been in the NFL’s top 10 in rushing defense all season.

Aaron Ripkowski, fullback: Who says fullback is a dying position? Former Packers fullback John Kuhn made three Pro Bowls in Green Bay and his replacement, Ripkowski, made a name for himself this year. Playing all 14 games, he’s rushed 25 times for 89 yards (3.6 average) and two touchdowns, including the team’s first of the season by a running back.