Tom Pelissero of The Ringer has offered hope about Micah Parsons' return. In his latest notebook ahead of Week 1, Pelissero reported that the Green Bay Packers have "optimism" that Parsons could return in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys, and "potentially" even a week earlier against the Chicago Bears.
We may need to pump the brakes. While it's certainly feasible for Parsons to return that soon – if anyone can do it, Micah Parsons certainly can – it still seems like wishful thinking.
Based on everything Parsons has said, along with what we know about the Packers' cautiousness with bringing players back from long-term injuries, Week 6 seems a little too optimistic.
As ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported in June, Parsons also had a meniscus cleanup, which means he won't be cleared for football activities until the nine-month mark. Having had surgery on December 29, Parsons could return to practice in late September. That would leave limited time to ramp up his reps before Week 6.
And Parsons has continued to stress the need for patience.
"The goal for me is to complete the season -- not no relapse -- and playoffs and pushing towards a championship," Parsons said, via Demovsky. "The goal isn't for me to go out there and rehurt myself trying to force myself to get back the first few games. The goal has always been [to be available for the] playoffs, and I think we're all on the same page."
What history tells us about when Micah Parsons will return
The closest comparison is former Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 9 of the 2022 season. He didn't resume 11-on-11 work at practice until August 22, 2023, which was 289 days after his injury.
Gary was eased back into action and began the regular season on a pitch count. He didn't make his first start of the season until Week 5, and even then, his snap counts were still increasing.
His first game back was 308 days after his ACL injury, but it took another month until he was a full-go.
By Week 5 this season, Parsons will be 286 days removed from surgery. By the Cowboys game in Week 6, it'll be 293 days.
Another comparison is Nick Bosa, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 2 of the 2020 season. As his injury occurred so early in the year, he was ready to play a full complement of snaps by Week 1 in 2021. However, the San Francisco 49ers were cautious with his workload at training camp, and he was mostly limited to individual drills.
When is the most realistic return date for Micah Parsons?
Week 6 is possible, but as Parsons told NFL Network last month, it would be the "most optimistic" return date. Not the expectation.
His brother, Terrence Parsons, posted on X (formerly Twitter) in June that returning in Week 5 or 6 was "not the goal." The goal is to get back to 100 percent before returning to the field, even if it takes a little longer.
That's why Week 8 feels like a more realistic starting point. The key words being starting point.
The Packers host the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football on October 30, which could be a full month after Parsons is cleared to practice. It would also put him 304 days (around 10 months) post-surgery, which falls much more in line with Gary's timeline. Still, Parsons would likely need to begin on a pitch count.
That game is on a Thursday, though. Waiting until Week 9 for a November 8 meeting with the New England Patriots, 314 days post-surgery, could make even more sense.
The Packers are historically cautious with injuries, so perhaps they wait until their Week 11 bye, which would ensure Parsons could return in time for a Thanksgiving Eve date with the Los Angeles Rams on November 25, 331 days post-surgery. But that might be too cautious.
We keep hearing about Week 6, and there's reportedly "optimism." From a timing perspective, it could work.
But if the Packers and Parsons are as committed to patience as they have suggested, and want to ensure he's at 100 percent before playing, we should prepare for a longer wait.
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