The Green Bay Packers will open the 2026 NFL season without star edge rusher Micah Parsons as he continues recovering from a torn ACL suffered late last year.
Parsons, acquired in a trade from the Dallas Cowboys before the 2025 campaign, tore the ligament in his left knee during a Dec. 14 game against the Denver Broncos. He underwent surgery on Dec. 29 that also addressed meniscus damage. The Packers have placed him on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he will miss at least the first four games.
Fans and analysts have pointed to Week 6 as a possible return window. That game pits Green Bay against the Cowboys at Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football, offering a high-profile matchup against Parsons’ former team.
Parsons addressed his progress during a recent appearance with Bleacher Report.
“I’m not going to lie, the rehab is going really good,” Parsons said. “We’re getting stronger. We’re moving a little bit now. We’re running. We’re starting to change direction. It’s coming along.”
He acknowledged the excitement around a potential Week 6 debut but stressed caution.“The people really want Week 6. I just want to come back when I’m feeling like myself again,” Parsons said.
Parsons closed with a message for supporters.“Packer Nation, just know when I come back, it’s going to be up,” he said.
In 2025, Parsons posted 12.5 sacks in just 14 games, becoming the first player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to reach at least 12 sacks in each of his first five NFL seasons. His career total stands at 65 sacks. Despite the abbreviated year, his peers ranked him No. 8 on the 2026 NFL Top 100 Players list, his highest placement yet. New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon must generate pressure without his top pass rusher early on. Former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness is expected to shoulder a larger role. In 43 career games over three seasons, Van Ness has recorded 84 tackles, 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defended. Other edge contributors competing for snaps include Brenton Cox Jr., Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver and Dani Dennis-Sutton. The group possesses solid size and athleticism on paper, but the unit must prove it can disrupt offenses without Parsons’ elite production. Parsons has followed the Packers’ preferred nine-month recovery protocol after ACL reconstruction. That timeline places the earliest practice return near late September, with game action potentially following after a ramp-up period. Starting the season on the reserve PUP list would make him eligible for activation around Week 5. Green Bay reached the playoffs last season before a wild-card exit. The defense ranked among the league’s better units while Parsons was healthy, and his eventual return is viewed as a major boost rather than a necessity for early competitiveness. Parsons has shared regular updates on his rehab, emphasizing strength gains and functional movement. He has avoided setting a firm return date, prioritizing long-term health and peak performance over rushing back. The Packers open the regular season soon, and the early schedule will test the depth of their front seven. Success without Parsons would ease the burden until he rejoins the lineup. When that happens, Green Bay expects a fully healthy version of one of the NFL’s most disruptive defenders. Parsons’ track record of consistent double-digit sack seasons suggests he can quickly regain his form and elevate the defense in the second half of the year.
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