Packers Get Bad News on Parsons ACL Tear: He Won’t Be Back Until October

The Green Bay Packers’ landing of linebacker Micah Parsons in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys was the splash of the 2025 season.

Parsons dealt with injuries and played just 14 regular season games, and he missed the playoffs. He looked promising in his appearances; however, with 12.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Green Bay looked poised to make a big run with Parsons returning for the 2026 season after an ACL tear, but that on-field reunion won’t happen until October now. Parsons informed the media on Wednesday that he is only five months into recovery after surgery, and ACL tears normally require nine months to recover.

“The goal for me is to complete the season—not no relapse —and playoffs and pushing towards a championship,” Parsons told reporters. “The goal isn’t for me to go out there and rehurt myself trying to force myself to get back the first few games. The goal has always been [to be available for the] playoffs, and I think we’re all on the same page.”

The Packers could put Parsons on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list if he can’t compete right away. That means he would sit out the first four or five games of the season, and he could return in time for Week 6 when the Packers play the Cowboys.

Green Bay’s defense suffered without Parsons last season, with 21 points allowed per game, which included 41 points allowed against the Baltimore Ravens. The Packers’ pass rush gave up 226.2 yards per game, as opponents didn’t have to contend with the four-time Pro Bowler.

“These windows are very small, and they come every four or five years in this league,” Parsons said. “Obviously, you can’t keep everybody. So we just have to thank God that we have another opportunity this year.”

“When one door closes, another one’s open, and that’s something that we have guaranteed,” Parsons added. “We have this opportunity this year to have a chance to stay healthy and push for a playoff run. I accepted that fate, but I accepted the future also.”

Parsons said he has kept head coach Matt LaFleur, general manager Brian Gutekunst, and director of sports medicine/head athletic trainer Nate Weir in the know throughout the rehab process.

“We have a pretty good, strong nine-month rule,” Parsons said. “Through the research and the data, there’s no good outcomes with players coming back early from an ACL, especially if you had other things that had to get fixed up. It’s just all about completing the rehab to the best of our ability and then seeing where we’re at from there.”

Parsons was very clear that he doesn’t want to rush things. The Packers aren’t either, despite the slide that happened late last season with five consecutive losses after Parsons’s injury.

“I don’t think Gutey or Nate or Matt wants me to go out there if I’m not at 100 percent and risk reinjury and lose me for the year and it’s just a waste of a year,” Parsons said. “Everything is about playoffs and winning football games deep (in the year).”

The Packers open against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 13, followed by the New York Jets on Sept. 20, Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 24, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 4.

“Yeah, those games are important, but maybe we don’t see Dallas twice, but we see Chicago twice and the games that we have in December or, even more, playoff games,” Parson said. “We got a tough schedule this year, and I think for the betterment of everyone, everyone wants me at 100 and wants me in those games so we can make this championship run.”

Green Bay will have a stiff test when Parsons returns with the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Rams in a month’s span after the Cowboys game.