After signing a massive four-year, $188 million extension following his high-profile move over from Dallas, Green Bay Packers‘ star pass rusher Micah Parsons suffered a non-contact injury against the Denver Broncos in Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season.
The injury was later diagnosed as a torn ACL. He was placed on the IR on Dec. 17 and underwent reconstructive knee surgery on Dec. 29.
The timing was devastating. The Packers were 9-3-1 and contending for the top seed in the NFC when it happened.
After losing Parsons, they went 0-5, and their division rival, the Chicago Bears, sent them home in the wild-card round.
That’s not a coincidence. That’s what happens when you lose the best player in your building.
Now there’s a new development out of Titletown.
Head coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday, after the team’s OTA practice, that Parsons is not likely to participate in training camp when the Packers start their daily preseason workouts.
LaFleur noted no official decision has been made yet, but he does expect Parsons to open training camp on the PUP list.
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It’s a concerning update, but it makes perfect sense if you’re Green Bay.
Players activated from reserve/PUP don’t count toward the team’s eight allotted IR activations during the season, meaning they get Parsons back without having to burn a single one of those eight activations.
It isn’t exactly a shock, either.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in mid-May that Parsons was a candidate to open the regular season on the reserve/PUP list, which would require him to sit out at least the first four games.
LaFleur’s comments on Wednesday only confirm it’s where things are heading.
The good news is that the Packers’ first four opponents, the Vikings, Jets, Falcons, and Buccaneers, all missed the playoffs last year.
Green Bay could realistically be 3-1 or even 4-0 before their biggest weapon walks back onto the field.
And Week 5 brings the Bears to Lambeau Field for a revenge game, right when Parsons would become eligible to return.
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