Latest development sheds light on timeline for Micah Parsons' return to Packers

Yet to play this season, Green Bay Packers star defender Micah Parsons could finally be inching toward a return. As reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Parsons returned to practice on Wednesday, following up on the previous week's report. 

And while simply practicing doesn't disclose what he was actually able to do or that he's on track to play in a game, it does show he's on schedule and working toward helping his team. 

Green Bay has yet to fully see the true benefit of having Micah Parsons 

Parsons, who Green Bay acquired in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys right before the start of the 2025 season, has been long recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus he suffered in a game last December. Parsons' absence immediately hurt the Packers, as Green Bay failed to win another game without him and then lost to the rival Chicago Bears in the NFC wild-card round of the playoffs. 

As for this season, Green Bay is 5-3 and coming off a 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers, though it currently sits in last place in the NFC North. 

Micah Parsons is needed for the Packers to take that next step to truly contend

Without Parsons, the Packers defense has still been admirable, giving up the 10th-fewest yards allowed and points per game through eight weeks. But in order to make the initial trade for him worth it in the end and in order for the franchise to achieve its ultimate goal, it needs Parsons out there wrecking games in its favor. 

Parsons, still early in his career at 27 and already a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, made 41 total tackles with 12.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 14 games in his first season with the Packers in 2025. He currently has 297 tackles, 75 tackles for a loss, 65 sacks and 11 forced fumbles in 77 games across five seasons.