Micah Parsons is finally on the brink of getting back on the field for the Packers, but Green Bay isn’t about to rush the process.
Head coach Matt LaFleur said the “intention” is for Parsons to practice this week for the first time since tearing his ACL last December. That’s a major checkpoint, but it does not mean an immediate return to game action. LaFleur called it a “process,” and that fits the situation: Parsons missed training camp and the preseason, so the Packers plan to ease him in over multiple weeks before he’s cleared for regular-season snaps.
Green Bay will open Parsons’ 21-day practice window, which gives the team the ability to keep him off the 53-man roster until he’s ready to play or that three-week window runs out.
So when does the comeback actually happen? The most likely answer is still a few weeks away.
There’s essentially no chance Parsons plays in Week 9 against the Patriots. One week of practice after such a long layoff would be a huge leap, and the Packers have made it clear they’re taking the cautious route.
Week 10 against the Vikings is a little more plausible, but only barely. A limited workload on a pitch count could be tempting given the matchup, yet the Packers have a conservative medical staff and no reason to force the issue.
Even that small window feels optimistic, especially with the bye week right after. Parsons has said repeatedly that he wants to come back at 100 percent so he can be fully ready for a playoff run, and that makes an early return against Minnesota look unlikely.
The bye in Week 11 lines up well for Green Bay, giving Parsons another week to build up without missing a game. It’s an unusual bye, too, with the Packers playing on Wednesday night in Week 12, which means preparation for that game starts earlier than normal. Still, the timing only strengthens the case for holding him out until then.
Week 12 at the Rams is the date to watch. Parsons’ 21-day window expires then, which means the Packers would need to activate him to the 53-man roster.
That doesn’t automatically mean he has to play against Los Angeles, but barring any setbacks, this is the obvious target. Tom Pelissero of The Ringer said Week 12 is the “most likely return date” for Parsons, though he also noted there’s a chance he could go against the Vikings.
If Parsons does come back in Week 12, the timing would be ideal for a demanding stretch run. The Packers would get him back for a tough late-season push, and he could end up making a bigger impact than any veteran acquired at the trade deadline.
That seven-game stretch is loaded, with matchups that could matter a lot. Parsons would be walking back into a heavyweight game against the Rams, with Myles Garrett expected back on the other side by then. Green Bay will also need him when Josh Allen comes to Lambeau, and the divisional games against Chicago and Detroit could carry major stakes.
By Week 13 at the Saints, Parsons is expected to be back. That’s why the odds there are above 99 percent. It still depends on how he feels and how his body responds once the practice ramp-up begins, but all signs point to Parsons being back well before the Packers head to the Superdome on December 6.
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