NFL executive links Packers with big-name fill-in for injured Micah Parsons

Green Bay Packers fans learned some expected news earlier this month when star pass-rusher Micah Parsons confirmed that he will miss at least the first four games of the 2026 season while on the physically unable to perform list. 

That said, it's too early to say what Parsons will and/or won't be in October as he continues to recover from the season-ending torn ACL he suffered in the middle of December 2025. For a piece published on Friday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US spoke with one league executive who believes the Packers have a Parsons fill-in in mind. 

La Canfora noted that Parsons may "miss upwards of half the season" returning from surgery. 

Is Jadeveon Clowney the right temporary Micah Parsons replacement for the Packers? 

The previously mentioned executive said that he "has a hunch" that free-agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney "ends up with the Packers" at some point this summer. 

Clowney, who remained a free agent as of the morning of June 19, tallied 8.5 sacks with the Dallas Cowboys last season. Across the past three campaigns, he recorded a total of 23.5 sacks. Such numbers suggest that the 33-year-old can still be a top contributor for an advertised playoff contender such as Green Bay. 

Some have linked Clowney with the New England Patriots. However, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel suggested last week that his club won't sign a big-name pass rusher this summer unless someone already on the New England roster goes down with an injury. 

When Jadeveon Clowney could make the final decision for the 2026 season

"Clowney is in no hurry to sign anywhere, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, and at this stage of his career, even training camp, or a full training camp, is not a prerequisite for him," La Canfora added. 

La Canfora also said that "it wouldn’t be a surprise at all at this stage for [Clowney] to land with a playoff team." 

The 2025 Packers qualified for the postseason with a record of 9-7-1, and Green Bay later squandered an 18-point lead en route to suffering a brutal 31-27 wild-card playoff loss to the rival Chicago Bears. Thus, it's fair to assume that the Packers and Clowney both have reasons to want to work with each other as long as Green Bay matches his financial asking price.