newsweek
Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons will remain sidelined for the foreseeable future, as head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters on Monday that Parsons will not participate in practice this week. The announcement effectively rules him out for the Packers' Week 7 game against NFC North rival Detroit Lions.
Parsons, who originally was projected to make his 2026 season debut in Week 6, did not play in Sunday night's game against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. His recovery from a torn ACL and meniscus sustained in Week 15 of last season continues to progress slowly, and he has not yet received medical clearance.
"He's got to clear some hurdles yet to get to that point," LaFleur said, indicating that Parsons still has steps to complete before returning to action. The Packers must first open Parsons's 21-day practice window before he can be considered for game action.
Key Analysis
The delay in Parsons's return is not entirely unexpected. Over the weekend, NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported that Parsons is not likely to see the field until Week 9 at the earliest, when the Packers face the New England Patriots on Nov. 8. However, there is a strong possibility that Green Bay will opt to hold him out until after their Week 11 bye, which would push his debut to the Thanksgiving eve game against the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
Waiting another month or more for Parsons would be a significant setback for the Packers, who acquired him via trade last season. In his two seasons with the team, Parsons has appeared in only 14 games, and Green Bay has yet to fully realize the benefits of the acquisition. The exact nature of the hold-up remains unclear, but Parsons's lack of medical clearance is the primary obstacle.
Originally reported by newsweek.