Ryan Clark subbing for Ed Reed

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Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark is headed to his first Pro Bowl.

The 32-year-old Clark was named as a replacement for Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed on the AFC roster, the Steelers announced Wednesday. The 33-year-old Reed is dealing with ailments that include a nerve impingement in his neck, a sore shoulder and a sprained left ankle.

Clark led the NFL's top-ranked defense with a career-high 100 tackles this season. He added one interception and one sack.

Clark sat out the Steelers' final game, an overtime playoff loss to the Denver Broncos, because of a sickle-cell condition that becomes aggravated if he plays at higher elevations.

He celebrated the news of his Pro Bowl nod with a post to his Twitter account Wednesday morning.

He wrote: "HAWAII!!!!!!! God is so good!! 1st pro bowl!! It's a great day to be alive!!"

Several of Reed's teammates -- defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (thigh), outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (undisclosed) and running back Ray Rice (family reasons) -- also will miss the Pro Bowl. Those Ravens players will be replaced by Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Paul Soliai, Steelers linebacker James Harrison and San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, respectively.

The Pro Bowl will be played at 7 p.m. ET Sunday in Honolulu.

Information from ESPN.com AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley and The Associated Press was used in this report.

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