Earl Thomas would rather be playing for a third straight appearance in the Super Bowl. Instead, the Seattle Seahawks free safety from West Orange will just skip the Pro Bowl.

Thomas announced on his Facebook that he will not participate in the NFL’s all-star game, which is now held the week before the Super Bowl.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the players, coaches, and most importantly, all of the fans who voted me into this year’s Pro Bowl,” he wrote. “I have always considered being selected as one of the highest honors bestowed on any player in the league. While I value the significance of being named to the Pro Bowl, I unfortunately will not be able to participate in this year’s upcoming game. It is without question that I will miss taking the trip out to Hawaii and enjoying the festivities with my fellow NFL brothers and all the fans, but I look forward to getting my body fully healthy and working to bring another Super Bowl home to Seattle!”

The Seattle Times reported that Thomas, who had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum last February, played in 976 of 993 possible regular-season snaps for Seattle, which was eliminated in the NFC divisional round by the Carolina Panthers. He has never missed a game in his career.

Thomas, who played at West Orange-Stark and Texas, won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in the 2013 season and lost the Super Bowl to New England last January.

— I.C. Murrell