Rashan Gary’s strong words after Micah Parsons’ injury backfire fast and shift the conversation in an uncomfortable direction
Former first-round pick Rashan Gary has failed to match expectations and his big contract.
It was always going to be extremely hard for the Green Bay Packers to overcome Micah Parsons’ season-ending knee injury. As a star edge rusher, Parsons is not only productive, but he makes the entire defense play at a higher level — that’s ultimately why the Packers traded two first-round picks and Kenny Clark for him.
Rashan Gary, though, was confident that the defensive front could survive. Right after the loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 15, the former first-rounder showed that confidence in a post-game interview.
Gary’s comments backfired
If people have, in fact, watched the Packers’ defensive front, they saw underwhelming results at best. Gary himself has been pretty ineffective, with seven total pressures in the past two games — the reality is that Parsons averaged almost six pressures per game, and he had six games with seven pressures or more.
After starting the season with 7.5 sacks in the first seven games, Gary hasn’t had a sack since Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafted in 2019, the edge defender has yet to have his first double-digit sack season in the NFL.
Tough decisions to come
Particularly against the Ravens, it was concerning to see Gary’s lack of production. He generated three pressures and had a 58.2 PFF run defense grade. He ended up playing only 45% of the defensive snaps, behind Kingsley Enagbare and Lukas Van Ness.
If he’s eventually third in the rotation even without Parsons available, it will be hard to justify his contract.
Gary signed a four-year extension back in 2023, and now he has two years left on it after this season. He’s slated to make $19.5 million in 2026 and $22.5 million in 2027, but none of it is guaranteed.
Parsons’ injury and its ramifications for the start of the 2026 season may affect the approach there, but it’s realistic to expect that the Packers will try to touch Gary’s deal — either via trade, pay cut, or even a release as a last resort.
Gary was confident, but he hasn’t backed it up on the field. And the entire defense is suffering because of the level the defensive front has put on tape.
Rashan Gary quick facts, career stats
- The Green Bay Packers drafted Rashan Gary with the 12th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan.
- He has 46.5 sacks in his career, but he has only had a career high of 9.5 in 2021.
- Gary has recorded 46 tackles for loss in his career, with a career high of nine in 2024.
- Gary made his first and only Pro Bowl during the 2024 season.
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