Bruce Irvin: 'I'm going to pray' for Packers rookie Corey Linsley

RENTON, Wash. – The Green Bay Packers are expected to start rookie Corey Linsley at center in Thursday's opener at Seattle. And Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin likes the sound of that.

"I'm going to pray for him," Irvin said Tuesday of Linsley, a fifth-round draft pick out of Ohio State. "It's going to be a long night, man. We've got to just take advantage of it."

Evan Dietrich-Smith, who started every game at center for the Packers last season, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. Green Bay planned to replace him with JC Tretter, who suffered a knee injury in the preseason, ushering Linsley into action.

Increasing the challenge in Linsley's debut: the Seahawks' nose tackle is Brandon Mebane, who's one of the best in the game. And the game is at raucous CenturyLink Field, where communication for an offensive line is a challenge no matter how long you've played.

"All the weaknesses that (Linsley) shows us, we've got to expose it," Irvin said. "Hopefully, 'Bane going to do what I know he's going to do to him. So, we've just got to be ready."

The last time the Packers played there was Sept. 24, 2012, when the Seahawks sacked star quarterback Aaron Rodgers eight times – all in the first half – and won 14-12 on what the replacement officiating crew ruled was a touchdown pass to Golden Tate.

"Aaron Rodgers, he likes to keep the play alive, so we've just got to keep rushing, keep rushing, keep rushing," said Irvin, who expects to play Thursday after missing the entire preseason following offseason hip surgery.

"It just takes four guys to contribute and hopefully, we can have us repeat the same performance we had in 2012 – without the Fail Mary, though. We're going to beat 'em straight up this time."