The Green Bay Packers are not anticipating Micah Parsons will return to practice this week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, putting the star edge-rusher’s status in doubt for Sunday night’s game against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. Parsons has been sidelined since December after tearing his ACL, and the Packers’ latest outlook on his Week 6 status offers no clear timetable for his season debut in Green Bay.
The 27-year-old was traded to the Packers by Dallas before the 2025 season in a deal that sent defensive tackle Kenny Clark and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 to the Cowboys. Green Bay signed Parsons to a four-year, $188 million extension after acquiring him. Sunday’s matchup had been expected to draw added attention as a second meeting between Parsons and Dallas, following a 40-40 overtime tie between the two sides the previous year. The Packers enter the game at 3-2, while the Cowboys are 2-3.
What The Team And Sources Have Said
There is no definite timetable for Parsons’ return, though the team hopes he will be back on the field at some point in October, per the fact sheet tied to Schefter’s reporting. Uncertainty remains about the exact date, but hope persists that his season debut could come before the month ends.
Defensive Depth Already Stretched Thin
Parsons’ continued absence compounds a difficult stretch for Green Bay’s defensive front. Javon Hargrave, a Pro Bowler in 2021 and 2023 who signed a two-year, $23 million deal with the Packers this offseason, is out for the season after tearing his Achilles. Hargrave had been playing just under the team’s defensive snap total before the injury.
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, described as a standout, was also lost for the year with a torn Achilles just a week before Hargrave went down.
Green Bay’s injury list on the defensive line extends further. Warren Brinson (calf and groin) sits on injured reserve, Jordon Riley remains on the PUP list while recovering from an Achilles injury, and Anthony Campbell (ankle) missed Week 5. Healthy options up front include Karl Brooks, Chris McClellan, Jonathan Ford and Devonte Wyatt, though none carry Parsons’ or Hargrave’s track record.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur spoke to the toll of the Hargrave loss specifically, saying, “That kind of takes the air out of the room a little bit, when you lose … not only a great player but a great guy, a key piece to this team, and it kind of puts a little bit of a cloud on the day.” The comment reflects the broader strain on a defense now missing multiple key contributors heading into a nationally televised matchup.
Parsons’ Production Before The Injury
Before tearing his ACL in December, Parsons delivered immediately for his new team. In 14 games and 13 starts during his Packers debut season, he recorded 12.5 sacks, 41 tackles including 12 for loss, 27 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and a pass defensed. Those numbers underscore what Green Bay’s pass rush has been without since his injury, with Brenton Cox Jr. among those trying to help fill the gap this season.
What Comes Next
Green Bay hosts Dallas on Sunday night coming off a 31-7 win over the Bears in Week 5. With Parsons not expected back at practice this week, the Packers face the Cowboys without their offseason trade acquisition for a second straight month. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have had their own defensive shuffling, including the trade for Joey Porter Jr. Further updates on Parsons’ recovery timeline are expected as the Packers move through their October schedule, with hope still centered on a return before the month is out.
Additional reporting via NFL.com and the Cowboys’ official site.
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