Seahawks’ Bruce Irvin on Packers rookie center: ‘I’m gonna pray for him’

The Green Bay Packers will start rookie Corey Linsley at center for the team’s season opener against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Thursday. Linsley will have the task of facing nose tackle Brandon Mebane.

Linsley was pressed into duty when regular starter J.C. Tretter suffered a knee injury. 

Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin says Linsley will struggle to handle Mebane, who recorded 45 total tackles in 2013. 

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“If I’m a rookie and I’ve got Brandon Mebane my first game – he’s one of the best nose tackles in the league – it’s going to be big for him,” Irvin said, according to Pro Football Talk. “I’m gonna pray for him. It’s going to be a long night, man.”

Irvin, who had 40 tackles and two sacks last season, did not play in the preseason after having hip surgery, but returned to practice over the weekend.

- Scooby Axson