The Green Bay Packers are heading into a pivotal matchup against the Chicago Bears, but they’ll do so without the heartbeat of their defense. Star edge rusher Micah Parsons is out for the season with a torn ACL - a brutal blow for a team with playoff ambitions and a defense that leaned heavily on his game-changing presence.
Parsons wasn’t just another piece of the puzzle. He was the puzzle in many ways.
Among the league’s elite in pass rush win rate and sacks, he consistently tilted the field in Green Bay’s favor. His absence leaves a massive void, both in production and in the kind of energy that fuels a defensive unit.
And with defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt already lost for the year with a broken ankle, the Packers’ front seven suddenly looks a lot thinner than it did just a few weeks ago.
Now, with the postseason picture tightening, the Packers find themselves in a high-stakes moment. Saturday night’s clash with the Bears isn’t just a rivalry game - it’s a shot to reclaim the top spot in the NFC North.
A win puts Green Bay back in the driver’s seat. A loss?
It keeps them in the Wild Card mix, but the margin for error shrinks dramatically.
So, how do the Packers move forward without their defensive centerpiece?
Enter Brenton Cox Jr.
The team activated the second-year pass rusher from injured reserve this week, officially adding him back to the 53-man roster. It’s a timely return for a unit suddenly desperate for disruption off the edge.
Cox has been sidelined since Week 1 with a groin injury, and while he’s still something of an unknown at the NFL level, there’s reason for optimism. In limited action last season, he flashed real potential - posting 4.0 sacks and a forced fumble across just seven games. Not bad for an undrafted free agent still finding his footing in the league.
Of course, expecting Cox to replicate Parsons’ impact would be unfair. Parsons is a one-of-one talent.
But if Cox can provide even a fraction of the pressure Parsons brought, it’ll go a long way in keeping this defense afloat. The Packers don’t need him to be a superstar - they just need him to be disruptive, consistent, and opportunistic.
The reality is, Green Bay’s path to the playoffs now runs through a defense in transition. The offense will have to shoulder more of the load, and the coaching staff will need to get creative with blitz packages and rotations to manufacture pressure. But if Cox can step up and contribute right away, it could help stabilize a unit that’s suddenly searching for answers.
Saturday night in Chicago will tell us a lot about where this Packers team is mentally and physically. Can they rally without their defensive leader? Can the next man up - in this case, Brenton Cox - seize the moment?
The NFC North is still very much up for grabs. But with Parsons sidelined, Green Bay’s margin for error just got a lot smaller.