Micah Parsons' recovery from a torn ACL will remain a headline story throughout the Green Bay Packers' summer, but the team must face the potential reality of no Parsons until midseason.
It always felt inevitable that Parsons would begin the regular season on the PUP list, costing him at least four games, which made Week 5 versus Chicago a potential date to circle. That no longer feels realistic, given what Parsons has revealed publicly and what his brother has since said.
Micah said last week that he also had a meniscus procedure along with ACL surgery, giving him a minimum nine-month recovery. He also stressed the importance of patience and that returning at 100 percent is more important than rushing back. His brother, Terrence Parsons Jr., offered more insight.
In a response to a post on X (formerly Twitter) about Micah's recovery, Terrance stressed that the team will take a "patient approach." He believes that while Parsons could practice as soon as Week 5, we may not see him until closer to Week 8. Terrence compared it to Christian Watson's recovery last season.
Packers may have to get by without Micah Parsons until Week 8 or later
It's the right approach. The Packers didn't trade away two first-round picks for Parsons for a two-season window. They want him to be part of their success for multiple years. It's far better to ensure Parsons is fully healthy and at 100 percent rather than cutting corners or rushing him back too soon.
The Packers have a roster talented enough to win games in his absence. If he isn't back until Week 8, or even Week 10, so be it. If Parsons ramps up his production and is hitting his best form by December, the wait will be worth it.
For a while, Week 5 felt like a potential return date. It was optimistic, as it'd sit a little over 300 days after the injury. The fact that Parsons is also recovering from meniscus surgery adds some necessary caution.
The good news is that Green Bay famously has a conservative medical staff. They are far more likely to take a cautious approach than to roll the dice by having a player return too soon.
In the short term, it sucks. The Packers will have to get past a significant piece of a brutal schedule without their all-world pass-rusher. When he returns, it'll likely begin on a pitch count while he ramps up. But the Packers are smartly looking out for Parsons' long-term future.
It now appears likely he will miss the Week 5 game against the Bears, a rematch with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, and a trip to Detroit in Week 7. That's significant. Week 8 falls on Thursday Night Football, so the Packers may wait beyond that, and they'd then have only two more games before their bye week. Could they wait until after that?
Regardless, expectations have shifted. Parsons will likely miss a significant chunk of the season, but the good news? He should get close to full speed just in time for the most important stretch of the year.
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