Micah Parsons sits out Cowboys game as return date moves to November
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Micah Parsons missed the Packers game against Dallas on October 18. He is still hurt.
- He tore a key knee ligament last December. He is not cleared to practice yet.
- Reports point to November for his return. The first date named is November 8 at New England.
Micah Parsons did not play against his old team on Sunday night. The Green Bay Packers faced the Dallas Cowboys without their star pass rusher. Parsons is still healing from a torn knee ligament.
His return may not come until November.
What happened
Parsons sat out the Week 6 game on October 18. The game was a big one. It was Sunday Night Football.
It was his first chance to face Dallas since the trade. But he was not ready. USA Today reported that he stayed off the field.
The injury happened on December 14 last year. Parsons tore the ACL in his left knee. The ACL is a key band inside the knee.
It keeps the joint stable. He also hurt the meniscus in the same knee. The meniscus is a soft pad that cushions the joint.
The injury came in a game against the Denver Broncos. It ended his season.
Ten months have passed since that day. Parsons is still on the PUP list. PUP stands for physically unable to perform.
It means he cannot play or practice yet. He has not been cleared to practice. That is the key step before a return.
On his podcast, Parsons said he would not rush back. "So many people wanted me to be back for that game," he said. He called it just another Sunday Night Football game.
"It is not about me," he added. He said he wants to be healthy again. That is his main goal now.
Parsons also made one bold claim. "If the Super Bowl was this week, I am playing in the Super Bowl," he said. But he added a clear note.
He still needs to fix small things first. He wants to find out why the knee failed. He wants to fix weak spots.
He said a fast return can cause a new injury on the other side.
Coach Matt LaFleur agrees with the slow plan. He said he will play Parsons as soon as he gets the green light. The green light means full medical clearance.
LaFleur said the body must be in sync. One leg must not be much stronger than the other.
Why it matters
Parsons is one of the best defensive players in the league. His job is to rush the quarterback. He tries to sack the passer before the throw.
He had at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons. That is a rare run. He has been named an All-Pro three times.
That honor goes to the best players at each spot.
Dallas traded him to Green Bay in August 2025. The Cowboys got two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. The Packers gave Parsons a four-year extension.
Sports Illustrated reports it at $188 million. It was a win-now move. Green Bay wanted a title run.
At first, the deal looked great. Parsons got a sack in his first game as a Packer. Green Bay beat Detroit 27-13.
The Packers started 9-3-1 with him on the field. Then came the injury. Green Bay lost its final four games.
The season ended with a wild-card loss to Chicago. The Packers led 21-6 in the fourth quarter. They lost 31-27.
The Cowboys have not fixed their defense since the trade. Sports Illustrated notes Dallas ranks last in the league in key defensive stats. Dallas used the picks on other players.
It traded for tackle Quinnen Williams. It drafted edge rusher Malachi Lawrence and two more defenders. But the defense still sits at the bottom.
Dallas has even added former coach Mike Pettine to help the defense. SI gave the trade a new grade for each side. Green Bay got a C-minus.
Dallas got an F.
Green Bay has coped without its star. The pass rush still ranks fifth in pressure rate. That number is 42.5 percent, per Next Gen Stats.
Lukas Van Ness has stepped up. He has 21 pressures this season. The Packers also won back-to-back games over Tampa Bay and Chicago before the Dallas game.
But the defense took a second hit. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is out for the season. He tore his Achilles in Week 4.
That is the tendon at the back of the ankle. Green Bay needs Parsons back to fill the gap.
What happens next
The next step is practice. Parsons must be cleared to practice first. Then the team can open a 21-day practice window.
That window lets him train with the team. It gives the staff time to test the knee.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero has said Parsons is unlikely to play before November. That report came from Reuters. The first November game on the list is November 8.
Green Bay plays at New England that day. A later game is at home against Minnesota on November 15.
The schedule before then is tough. Green Bay plays at Detroit next. Then comes a Thursday night game against Carolina.
The Packers do not have their bye until Week 11. The bye is a week off. It comes after the Patriots game.
For now, fans must wait. Parsons wants two healthy knees. He said he does not need revenge against Dallas.
He just wants to do what he loves. When he returns, Green Bay gets its best pass rusher back. Until then, the Packers must win without him.
Related stories
Why Is Altitude Sickness Worse for Some People?
Altitude sickness hits some people harder because of genetics, ascent speed, and prior history, not fitness level. Here is what raises risk
Why Do You Get Blisters When Hiking and How to Prevent Them
Friction plus moisture plus heat equals a blister. Learn why hiking breeds all three, and the boots, socks, and tape system that keeps
How to choose hiking boots for beginners: fit, features, and break-in
Beginners should buy for fit first: snug everywhere, tight nowhere, with a thumb's width at the toes. Here is how to size, test,