Packers Get Troubling Micah Parsons News Ahead of Cowboys Clash

Micah Parsons has been working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in Week 15 of last season, his first with the Green Bay Packers. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery two weeks later, including a procedure on his meniscus, and the team placed him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start the 2026 season.

But his recovery has taken longer than initially hoped. Parsons previously viewed Week 6 as a realistic return date, with the Packers set to take on his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, on Sunday night. But he still hasn't been medically cleared to practice. Earlier this week, head coach Matt LaFleur said the team was getting closer to a return but stressed Parsons still had work to do before that can happen.

According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, though, we could still be weeks away from Parsons returning. Pelissero reported Saturday that Parsons is still not ready to practice and is unlikely to return before Green Bay's Week 9 matchup against the New England Patriots on Nov. 8, at the earliest.

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The Packers enter Week 6 at 3-2, showing flashes of strong defensive play even without Parsons. Green Bay bounced back from losses to the Vikings and Falcons with wins over the Buccaneers and Jets, followed by a dominant 31-7 victory over their rival Bears in Week 5. Against Chicago, the Packers defense forced five turnovers and allowed just a single touchdown.

Through the first five games, Green Bay ranks eighth in total yards allowed (308.6 per game) and in the top half of the league in points allowed (22.4 per game), many of which came from their two blowout losses: a 39-22 defeat in Minnesota and a 35-14 loss against Atlanta. The Packers defense allowed 38 points combined over the other three games.

The defense still needs to prove it can consistently handle stronger passing attacks, but they've still held up pretty well without their top pass rusher.

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Parsons recorded 12.5 sacks and 27 quarterback hits in just 14 games with the Packers last year. So getting him back should make a huge difference, and Green Bay will need him with a tough slate of games ahead, including matchups against the Patriots, Vikings, Rams, Bills, Bears, and Lions.