The Vikings will be sending a fifth player to the Pro Bowl this month.

Nose tackle Linval Joseph, who finished third on the team with 77 combined tackles, will replace Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald. Joseph joins three other Vikings defenders at the Pro Bowl in Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith. Cordarrelle Patterson was also voted in as a specialist on the original roster.

It's Joseph's first such Pro Bowl honor and a deserving one given his bludgeoning presence in the middle of the Vikings defense. Joseph set career-best marks in tackles (77) and forced fumbles (3), tying his career best with four sacks this season. The Vikings defense ranked third in yards allowed, the franchise's best finish since 1993.

The Pro Bowl will return to the conference format and is set for Jan. 29 in Orlando.