The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers face off in a suddenly fairly important NFC North matchup. The Lions (8-2) are trying to keep their divisional lead over the Vikings (6-5). Although their lead may feel pretty safe at the moment after Minnesota’s loss to the Denver Broncos.
The Packers (4-6) on the other hand, find themselves just one position out of the final Wild Card spot. Every win matters for the Packers going forward. The Lions won’t have a former Super Bowl champion available to them for this pivotal matchup.
Don’t expect to see recent practice squad addition Bruce Irvin in the Detroit Lions lineup on Thursday. Head coach Dan Campbell was pretty clear in ruling out Irvin from being promoted for the Thanksgiving visit from the Green Bay Packers.
Irvin was added to the practice squad last week after a rough outing from the Lions pass rush. Detroit’s pressure was better in the game against the Chicago Bears and Justin Fields, but still could use more oomph and finishing ability. But Irvin hasn’t yet shown Campbell or the Lions coaches that he can help.
Here’s what Campbell said when asked if Irvin would play in Week 12 against Green Bay,
“Yeah, it’s possible. I still don’t see that happening, not right now. We want to be smart. We want to be smart with how we do it. And he’s – look, he’s working, he’s learning it, he’s in good shape and I just think – just want to be smart with how we proceed here.”
Irvin is 36 and was unsigned all year until the Lions added him to the practice squad. Detroit is his sixth team in as many years, including two nonconsecutive seasons in Seattle. The Lions are healthy at the DE/OLB spots, too.
The Lions rank 22nd in the NFL with 23 sacks. Despite their struggles to get the quarterback to the ground, the team is consistently generating pressure on the pocket. With a pressure rate of 24.3%, Detroit ranks seventh.
Irvin has 55.5 sacks in his 13th season as a former first-round pick. A total of 12 total pressures and 3.5 sacks were recorded by him in 11 games last season with the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers not having to face Irvin will hopefully keep Jordan Love upright a little more often on Thanksgiving
