Eagles OL clearly won't miss facing Parsons twice a season

Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Eagles O-lineman clearly won't miss facing Micah Parsons twice a season

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 11:45 AM ET

Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata is glad EDGE Micah Parsons is no longer in the NFC East.

The Dallas Cowboys have traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. That gives Mailata one less thing to worry about in Philadelphia's season opener against Dallas on Thursday at 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock).

"Sigh of relief," Mailata said Sunday, via ESPN's Tim McManus. "I say that as a joke, but at the same time, it's kind of crazy. The last four or five years that we've played the Dallas Cowboys, we've come up with a game plan because Micah's a gamer."

The departure of Micah Parsons is a “sigh of relief,” Eagles LT Jordan Mailata acknowledged, but said the Cowboys still have plenty of talent of defense. pic.twitter.com/0vG6e1DpFD
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) August 31, 2025

Parsons should continue to be a difference-maker in Green Bay. In four seasons with Dallas, he logged 52.5 sacks and earned two first-team All-Pro nods.

Mailata, however, said Dallas' defense still presents a challenge, even without Parsons on the roster. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni agrees.

"[The Cowboys] still have guys you have to prepare for," the coach told the media Sunday. "They have Kenny Clark, who's a really good player, and they have good depth at the defensive end group. You don't get too wrapped up in [the Parsons trade] except for some of things you're doing in the game plan."

Even so, the unit should be much less effective without the 26-year-old pass-rusher. Dallas allowed the NFL's second-most points (27.5) last season, despite having Parsons.

Dallas also lacks a clear replacement for the defensive stud. The Cowboys' remaining edge-rushers are Dante Fowler Jr., Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams, rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku and James Houston. Per ESPN's Todd Archer, they've combined for 73 sacks in their careers.

No matter what Eagles players and coaches say, they're certainly glad they no longer have to face Parsons twice a year. That makes it much easier to win Thursday's game and a second straight division title.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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