Don't expect Micah Parsons to return in time for training camp, or even Week 1, for that matter.
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur met with reporters before Wednesday's OTA practice, and he offered some injury updates. While LaFleur was bullish about Tucker Kraft's status, we'll have to wait a while longer to see Parsons.
LaFleur said that he expects Parsons to begin training camp on the PUP list.
ESPN's Adam Schefter took it a step further while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, noting that the Packers expect Parsons to miss "the first few games," and that he could be a "PUP candidate," which would rule him out of at least four games.
As expected, the Packers will likely begin the season without Micah Parsons
The good news is that this was expected. Given that Parsons tore his ACL in mid-December, it was always going to be a race against time for Week 1. Typically, the earliest a player can return from an ACL tear is nine months, and that's an aggressive target. Nine months from the injury would land almost exactly in Week 1.
It's far more realistic that Parsons will need some extra time, which is why the PUP list would make sense. If he remains on the list throughout training camp and into the regular season, he'd have to miss at least four games. But in some ways, that's for the best. It would prevent a scenario where Parsons tries to push it too soon and rush back into action.
The target date would shift to Week 5, a home showdown with the Chicago Bears.
LaFleur said Parsons is "doing great" in his recovery. The frustrating reality is that ACL injuries take time. He's only a little over five months post-injury, and there's still a long way to go.
But, overall, it all sounds positive. LaFleur said Kraft looks great and could be ready for the start of training camp. Zach Tom is also making progress in his recovery from a significant knee injury. And it sounds like Parsons is on track and doing well.
Parsons starting training camp on the PUP list felt like a certainty, and missing the first few games was also inevitable. It's the smart approach. The Packers won't rush back their all-world pass-rusher and put him in any danger of suffering a setback.
We'll have to wait a while longer for Parsons' return. LaFleur's update was unsurprising, but still a positive one.