Irvin has 55.5 career sacks over 11 seasons with five different teams. He started 10 games and appeared in 11 games with 3.5 sacks last year for Seattle. The Lions have allowed him a few weeks to get into football shape, something Irvin said this week he really appreciates. Now he’s poised to help Detroit get just 23 sacks on the season, which ranks 26th in the NFL. The Lions’ pass rush win rate is 36 percent and ranks 28th.
“A lot,” Irvin said this week when asked how much he thinks he can help Detroit’s pass rush. “I don’t want to (make any predictions), but I think I can contribute a lot.”
The Lions have already ruled out veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone with a hand injury and did not travel to New Orleans. That means Jack Campbell, Derek Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez and others in that room will have to step up today. Anzalone leads the team in tackles and is the best linebacker. With him rookie outside linebacker Trevor Nowacki from Saginaw Valley State is active for the first time this season.
Joining Anzalone on Detroit’s inactive list today is defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs, defensive lineman Brodric Martin, defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike, linebacker Julian Okwara, wide receiver Antoine Green and cornerback Stephen Gilmore.
