Micah Parsons Eyes Return for Packers’ Week 6 Showdown with Cowboys

Linebacker Micah Parsons, who missed the 2023 season’s final three games after tearing his ACL and meniscus in Week 15, said he believes playing in Green Bay’s Week 6 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys is “very realistic.” He entered training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and is expected to remain there when the regular season begins, meaning he will miss at least the first four games. A recent change to the NFL’s PUP rule now permits players to begin practicing after two regular-season weeks, shortening the window that previously required four weeks of inactivity.

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Parsons’ 2022 campaign featured 12.5 sacks and a league-leading 64 quarterback pressures, according to ESPN Analytics, despite his injury-shortened finish. The Packers were 9-3-1 when he went down against the Denver Broncos and failed to win another game that season. This is the second consecutive year Parsons has missed the start of training camp; he did not practice with the Dallas Cowboys before being traded to Green Bay prior to the 2022 regular season.

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Parsons emphasized that the focus should be on his post-injury performance rather than the timeline for his return. He noted that “people are worried about the knee; they should be worried about how I’m going to play when I get back.” He described his rehabilitation as a chance to become a “much better player,” citing improved stability, strength, and a broader understanding of his physical limitations. Parsons likened his recovery to baseball pitchers who undergo Tommy John surgery, suggesting that clearing the injury could extend his career by six to ten years.

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• “I wouldn't say it's not possible, but, at the same time, in these next 10 weeks -- 10, 12 weeks from now on -- we've got to do our part to make it possible,” — Micah Parsons

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• “I think when you come out of these situations, you're either going to be better or you're worse,” — Micah Parsons

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• “People are worried about the knee; they should be worried about how I'm going to play when I get back,” — Micah Parsons

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• “I think based off of how I feel at this point, I feel like a much better player in the sense of how I feel," Parsons said.” — Micah Parsons

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Parsons is running gassers with his defensive-line teammates in camp and working on directional changes, a noted hurdle in his rehab. If the revised PUP rule is applied, he could begin practicing after the Packers’ Week 2 game, potentially making him available for the Week 6 contest at Lambeau Field. The outcome of his return will influence both his individual impact and the Packers’ defensive prospects as they aim for a playoff run.

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