Micah Parsons is taking the long view with his recovery from an ACL injury, even as the Green Bay Packers prepare for a high-profile matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.
Many around the league had circled October 18 as a realistic target for the edge rusher’s return after he opened the season on the physically unable to perform list, which forced him to miss the first four games.
With limited practice time available afterward, a debut against his former team seemed plausible.
Instead, Parsons has yet to practice, and head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the team is still awaiting medical clearance before he can begin on-field work and any subsequent ramp-up period.
The slower timeline has drawn questions, but Parsons addressed the scrutiny directly on the latest episode of his podcast, The Edge.
“The biggest thing that people worried about with me, they’re like, ‘Man, why ain’t he back yet?’” he said, via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. “If the Super Bowl was this week, I’m playing in the Super Bowl. But it’s just about me making sure I have all the small things fixed first.”
He elaborated on the broader considerations that go beyond simply healing the torn ligament.
“What a lot of people don’t figure out is it’s not just the ACL. It’s like, why did the ACL happen? What was weak? Because it all works together. It’s a chain. And throughout the history of ACL (injuries), they notice if you come back early, there tends to be an overcompensation injury on the other side,” Parsons explained. “We just going to make sure everything is right before. Because everyone knows, it’s like, what’s the point of getting me back for four weeks and then next thing you know, my groin’s bothering me.”
That measured stance aligns with the Packers’ overall approach. W
hile supporters may be disappointed that Parsons is not closer to facing the Cowboys, the organization has consistently signaled caution to avoid any setback that could sideline him again. Green Bay is no longer in the precarious spot it occupied earlier in the season, when a loss to the Atlanta Falcons dropped the team to 1-2.
Subsequent results have pushed the Packers above .500, and the defense has received productive contributions from younger edge rushers such as Lukas Van Ness and Dani Dennis-Sutton.
Van Ness has recorded 2.5 sacks along with multiple tackles for loss and quarterback hits, while Dennis-Sutton added a sack and additional pressure in a recent win over the Chicago Bears.
Those performances have given the coaching staff greater flexibility to prioritize Parsons’ long-term readiness.
When he does return, he is expected to reclaim his role as the defense’s primary edge threat, but the current depth allows Green Bay to avoid rushing the process.
For now, the focus remains on ensuring every underlying issue is addressed so that his eventual comeback lasts for the remainder of the season rather than a handful of games.
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