Micah Parsons’ long-awaited return still hasn’t arrived for the Packers, with another step left in his recovery
The star edge defender’s nine-month period from December surgery ends on Tuesday, but Green Bay is still waiting for medical clearance before opening his practice window.
The Green Bay Packers returned to practice Monday in preparation for their Week 4 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but edge defender Micah Parsons will not practice this week as he continues recovering from a torn ACL.
The latest Parsons update is not necessarily what Green Bay wanted, but it reflects the reality of where the star pass rusher stands in his recovery process.
LaFleur confirms no setbacks, but no practice
Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed on Monday that Parsons will not return to practice this week, though he made clear the situation is not a cause for alarm.
“No setbacks, just part of the process,” LaFleur explained. “He’s gotta get cleared before we can let him get out there.”
Under the updated PUP rules, Parsons could have theoretically returned to practice after two games. However, opening up his 21-day practice window last week would not have made sense because the Packers barely practiced during a short week ahead of a “Thursday Night Football” matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
This week represented a more realistic opportunity because Parsons had his surgery on Dec. 29, meaning the nine-month recovery period ends on Tuesday.
Recovery timeline and realistic return targets
Parsons tore his ACL and also suffered a meniscus injury on Dec. 14 last year against the Denver Broncos before undergoing surgery on Dec. 29. The Packers expect Parsons to get back on the field reasonably soon after his potential activation window begins in Week 5, but that does not guarantee a Week 5 return.
The more realistic target for Parsons’ comeback appears to be the Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys. With him not getting back to practice now, a return against the Chicago Bears seems even more unlikely. The star defender still has to get back on the practice field, feel good about how his body is performing, and then work toward game-day clearance.
For now, the Packers remain in waiting mode. The organization has been cautious with Parsons throughout this process, and that approach has not changed. Green Bay needs its star defensive player healthy for the long stretch of the season and beyond, and rushing the timeline carries far more risk than a potential reward.
