The Green Bay Packers just took a major hit on defense-Micah Parsons is done for the season with an ACL injury. That’s not just a loss; it’s a gut punch.
Parsons was the engine of this defense, a five-time Pro Bowler whose presence changed the way offenses game-planned every week. But in the NFL, there’s no pause button.
The Packers have to regroup, retool, and keep pushing.
Enter Collin Oliver.
The rookie edge rusher was activated from the reserve/physically unable to perform list just ahead of Green Bay’s Week 17 clash with the Ravens. It’s a big moment for the fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma State, who’s been sidelined since training camp with a hamstring issue. And while no one’s expecting Oliver to instantly replace what Parsons brings to the field, the Packers are clearly hoping he can inject some juice into the pass rush rotation.
Oliver met with reporters this week, and while he was speaking, a few teammates playfully called him “Baby Micah.” That nickname says a lot-not just about the respect he’s earned in the locker room, but also the kind of upside the Packers believe he has.
“That’s my dog,” Oliver said when asked about the comparison. “I’m glad they see I’m a talented player. Being compared to Micah is crazy.”
Crazy? Maybe.
But it also speaks to the kind of player Oliver was in college-and the flashes he’s already shown in practice. At Oklahoma State, he was a force off the edge, racking up 23.5 sacks, 134 tackles, and seven pass breakups in 43 games.
His freshman year alone was eye-opening: 11.5 sacks and a whole lot of disruption. He looked like a future star before a foot injury shut down his final college season just two games in.
Now, he’s healthy again. And with Parsons sidelined, the opportunity is right in front of him.
Let’s be clear-Oliver isn’t being asked to be Micah Parsons. That’s not realistic.
Parsons is one of the most dynamic defenders in the league, a rare blend of speed, power, and instincts. Oliver, on the other hand, is a rookie who hasn’t played a snap in the NFL yet.
But what he does have is a chance-a chance to show he belongs, to carve out a role, and to help stabilize a defense that just lost its centerpiece.
For Green Bay, this is about more than just plugging a hole. It’s about seeing what they have in a young, hungry player who’s been waiting for his shot. If Oliver can bring even a fraction of the explosiveness he showed in Stillwater, he could give the Packers some much-needed edge depth heading into a critical stretch of the season.
“Baby Micah”? That’s a big name to live up to.
But for now, the Packers will settle for a spark. And Collin Oliver has the chance to be just that.