We keep hearing about Week 6. Maybe even Week 5. Everyone wants to know: How soon will Micah Parsons return?
It's the wrong question.
The conversation shouldn't even begin until Parsons is 100 percent healthy and feeling at his best. That's the only thing that matters in his recovery, and it's more important than picking out specific matchups on the schedule. Would it be great to have Parsons back out there in two weeks against the Chicago Bears, or seven days later against the Dallas Cowboys? Absolutely, but at what cost?
Let Zach Bako-Bewele's heartbreaking injury be the warning. This isn't to accuse the Packers of rushing him back too soon or taking unnecessary risks – only they know the full details – but it sure didn't seem like he was at 100 percent.
The Packers should learn an important lesson from Zach Bako-Bewele's injury
Bako-Bewele suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 14 last December, a partially torn patellar tendon. It's a brutal injury to recover from, but the only saving grace was that it was partially torn and not fully.
The injury still required a lengthy and arduous recovery. Bako-Bewele barely participated in team drills at training camp, and just two weeks before the Packers' season opener, he raised concerns among fans by admitting he still wasn't at 100 percent.
Green Bay's injury report reflected that, with Bako-Bewele only able to log limited sessions at practice each day. He was questionable for Weeks 1 and 2.
Again, a sign he wasn't yet at 100 percent. The Packers deemed Bako-Bewele ready to play, but he looked way off it against the Minnesota Vikings. According to Pro Football Focus, the star right tackle allowed three pressures and a sack in a miserable day for the offensive line.
Bako-Bewele still failed to log a full practice in the week that followed before drawing another questionable tag ahead of a trip to MetLife Stadium. He played again, but on just the Packers' opening drive, he went down with another significant knee injury.
This time, as Bako-Bewele told reporters on Tuesday, he fully tore his patellar tendon in the same knee. It's devastating. Heartbreaking.
He now faces an even longer recovery timetable. The only consolation with it happening so early in the season is that Bako-Bewele has the best part of a year before the 2027 season opener, but it's a long road back and a brutal injury to recover from.
This should be front of mind for the Packers as they decide on Parsons' recovery.
Packers need to slow play Micah Parsons' recovery and remain patient
Different injuries, different players, different timetables, of course. Parsons is dealing with a torn ACL and meniscus injury, requiring its own recovery plan.
But there's still a lesson here. While Bako-Bewele may have cleared enough hurdles to play, the injury report is proof that he wasn't 100 percent healthy. He even said as much in the weeks before the season opener. The Packers can't take the same approach with Parsons.
Here's the current state of play: Parsons is nearing the magical nine-month post-surgery date.
In June, ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported that Parsons wouldn't be cleared to practice until nine months after his December 29 surgery. From there, he would need multiple weeks of practice time to ramp up for a return. The All-Pro pass rusher also made it clear that he had no intention of rushing back.
"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."
Parsons will hit nine months post-surgery early next week, which could also align with his return to practice. The Packers can now open his 21-day practice window to activate him from the PUP list. However, doing so this week doesn't make much sense, as the team won't practice much before Thursday Night Football.
But they should move cautiously.
Once the Packers begin Parsons' 21-day window, they will have three weeks to activate him to the 53-man roster.
A Week 6 return has come up repeatedly, but it feels a little too soon.
Tom Pelissero of The Ringer reported before Week 1 that the Packers have "optimism" that Parsons could return for that game against the Cowboys on October 18. But that would give him less than three weeks to ramp up. Is that really enough?
The Packers need to make sure he's 100 percent healthy and feels comfortable enough to play at his best.
Parsons' injury situation is different from Bako-Bewele's, which is incredibly unfortunate, but it should serve as a reminder. Parsons is so important to this team, both this year and beyond. The Packers must ensure he has all the time necessary to get fully healthy before even entertaining his return.
Parsons will be desperate to get out there. So was Bako-Bewele. The Packers need to move with caution and patience.
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