The Green Bay Packers won't have Micah Parsons available for the rest of the season, but fans could soon be introduced to "Baby Micah."
That's the nickname handed to Collin Oliver, the team's fifth-round rookie, by his Packers teammates. Oliver has missed the entire season to this point due to a hamstring injury, but he is finally ready to contribute. The Packers activated him from the PUP list this week, and he is now part of the 53-man roster.
Matt LaFleur played down the role he could play immediately, which is understandable. In addition to the time missed this season, Oliver played only two games for Oklahoma State in 2024 due to a foot injury.
"I think that would be a little premature to say he's ready to contribute," said LaFleur. "Does he has promise? Absolutely he does. Just watching him practice all last week, you see why we took him. I just think he needs more reps, but in the event that we need him, early showings are promising."
Matt LaFleur is excited about Collin Oliver's potential after Packers activate him
We may not see much of Oliver right away, but as LaFleur says, they'll use the rookie if they need him. And there's a reason why his teammates call him "Baby Micah."
Like Parsons, Oliver has experience at multiple positions, primarily defensive end and off-ball linebacker. His speed and athleticism stand out, and Oliver made it look easy in college, recording 23.5 sacks and 40.5 tackles for loss in 43 games.
READ MORE: Packers' Keisean Nixon problem has suddenly become impossible to ignore
Translating that production and potential into the NFL will require patience, especially considering how much time he's missed, but the Packers believe in him.
"That's my dog," Oliver said of Parsons, via The Athletic's Matt Schneidman. "I'm glad they see I'm a talented player. Being compared to Micah is crazy."
The main priority for Oliver is to stay healthy. He is coming off a significant hamstring injury, and the Packers won't want to rush him into significant reps too early. As LaFleur says, he also needs time to get up to speed after missing several months.
But Oliver can give this defense something a little different, even if he's just used as a designated pass-rusher on a snap count to begin with.
It hasn't taken long for Oliver to earn high praise from his teammates. While he won't replace Parsons' production anytime soon, he could give the Packers' pass rush a boost if they need him at the backend of the season.