Seahawks list Bruce Irvin, Garry Gilliam as questionable for Packers but Pete Carroll expects them to start

The Seahawks listed their starting right tackle and starting outside linebacker/pass rusher as questionable for Sunday night’s game at Green Bay.

But coach Pete Carroll thinks Garry Gilliam and Bruce Irvin will be able to play through rib injuries against the Packers in a game Seattle cannot afford to be minus any more starters beyond holdout safety Kam Chancellor.

Irvin, who is in the final year of his rookie contract as Seattle’s first-round draft choice in 2012, started last weekend’s opener at St. Louis and played 51 of 60 snaps on defense. He got a rib injury this week that caused him to miss practice Thursday and be limited during Friday’s walkthrough. If he misses any snaps, second-year linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis would likely replace him.

Not that Carroll thinks Irvin will miss snaps Sunday.

“We’ve got him as questionable, but the thing that’s bothering him he’s had before,” Carroll said before the team boarded its chartered jet for Wisconsin Friday afternoon.

In fact, Irvin missed last September’s home game against Denver after being on the injury report that week for a rib injury.

If Gilliam unexpectedly can’t make his second career start, Alvin Bailey would be the right tackle.

Carroll said Simon will be a game-time decision. The third-year cornerback missed last week’s game, stalling his push to challenge Cary Williams for the starting cornerback job opposite Richard Sherman.

Speaking of Sherman, expect the All-Pro cornerback to again play inside when the Seahawks go to five defensive backs on Sunday, as they are likely to often against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ passing game. Sherman played about 15 plays as the nickel back inside against slot receivers last week against the Rams. He may do it more this week to shadow Randall Cobb, who is emerging as Green Bay’s top receiver with Jordy Nelson out for the season because of a knee injury. Cobb had five catches a touchdown last week in the Packers’ 31-23 win at Chicago.

The Packers declaring Bulaga out means fourth-year veteran Don Barclay is likely to start at right tackle. Barclay missed all last season with a torn knee ligament. Seattle ends Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett are likely to take turns targeting him.

Green Bay put inside linebacker and play caller Sam Barrington on injured reserve this week. Nate Palmer is poised to make his third career start and first since his rookie season of 2013 for Barrington. The moves make it likely Packers star Clay Matthews plays more inside linebacker Sunday than outside or end that he’s played recently.

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Seahawks list Bruce Irvin, Garry Gilliam as questionable for Packers but Pete Carroll expects them to start."