One Big Question the Packers Still Have to Answer Regarding Micah Parsons

The Green Bay Packers pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday to acquire edge rusher Micah Parsons. The Packers then signed Parsons to a lucrative contract extension that made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. The Packers have a week and a half between the trade and the opening of the 2025 NFL season. Green Bay will host the Detroit Lions in Week 1 at Lambeau Field. But there is still one big question the Packers have to answer regarding Micah Parsons. We won’t really know the answer until the first game is played.

One Big Question the Packers Still Have to Answer Regarding Micah Parsons: The Background

Parsons spent his first four NFL seasons with the Cowboys. Dallas selected him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft using the 12^th overall pick. The Penn State alum has never recorded fewer than 12 sacks in a season. He is only the second player in league history to accomplish that feat. Former Packers great Reggie White was the first. Parsons earned Pro Bowl honors in all four seasons and was named All Pro three times. He missed just four games total in his first four seasons, all four of them coming in 2024 when he missed time doe to a high ankle sprain.

The Packers were able to acquire Parsons after he had a contract dispute with the Cowboys. Parsons and Dallas owner Jerry Jones allegedly had a handshake deal done but that never was finalized. Eventually, Parsons demanded a trade. The relationship between the player and the team reached the point of no return and the trade went through.

The Big Question

Because of the contract dispute, Parsons did not participate in any preseason games this year. He also did not practice with the team during training camp. While he undoubtedly has been working out on his own, he is not presently in football shape. Parsons will have roughly 10 days to ramp up and get ready to play in the season opener. In addition, the Packers second game will be on Thursday night. That will not give Parsons or any of the Packers much time to recover physically and prepare for Week 2.

Parsons also claimed to have a back injury, although that may have been more of a cover for his holdout. Sources say the back injury is nothing serious, but anybody who has suffered from a bad back knows how tricky that can be.

The other thing Parsons needs to be doing now is learning the Packers defensive playbook. He needs to work with Jeff Hafley and start learning his assignments and the different formations the defense runs.

So, while Parsons will practice with the team all week, how much he will be able to contribute in Week 1 remains to be seen.

GM Brian Gutekunst said, “We’re going to have to see. We’ll have a chance to get him out there on Monday and see where he’s at. Certainly, we’re hopeful he’ll help us in some form or fashion in the opener, but I do think it’s on us to be smart and make sure he’s ready to go.”

Head coach Matt LaFleur had a similar outlook. “We’ve got to see where he’s at,” the coach told reporters. “I don’t believe he has practiced, so we’ve got to be very calculated with how we deploy him and the number of snaps he’s going to get.”

One Big Question the Packers Still Have to Answer Regarding Micah Parsons: The Likely Path Forward

The Packers would be wise to bring Parsons along slowly. Assuming his back is OK, and he can learn some basic formations and assignments, he will likely play 20-25 snaps against Detroit, mostly on obvious passing downs.

The worst-case scenario would be for Parsons to suffer an injury as a result of trying to do too much, too soon. While the Packers face tough opponents in their first two games in the Lions and Commanders, they cannot afford to be without their new acquisition for an extended period of time because he was rushed and suffered an injury.

Bringing the Pro Bowler along gradually is the wisest move for the Packers. By the time we get to October, Parsons should be fully ready to assume his full-time role in the Green Bay defense. Even in a part-time role, he could have a substantial impact on the outcome of a game if he can make a big play or two.