Packers' Micah Parsons Reveals Target Return Date

The Green Bay Packers lost their final five games of last season without All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who tore his ACL against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 14.

The Packers will have to do better in Parsons’ absence to start the 2026 NFL season.

Parsons, 27, met with the media at the Packers’ OTA on Wednesday and shared multiple updates on his ongoing recovery.

“I just passed my fifth month [since undergoing surgery] on May 29, so I’m extremely happy with where we’re at and the direction that I’m going,” Parsons said while surrounded by microphones. “Obviously, [I’ve] got four more months to go.”

Parsons confirmed that his goal remains to return to the field sometime in October, noting, “The goal has always just been not right now, but longevity for my career here, and I think they want that approach. We have a pretty strong nine-month rule, so it’s just all about - just through the research and the data, there’s no good outcomes with players coming back early from [a torn] ACL, especially if you add in all the other things that get fixed up.”

Parsons also revealed that he had an additional procedure to “clean up” his meniscus this offseason.

“The goal for me is to complete the season,” he said, per Ryan Wood. “Not no relapse. And playoffs, pushing toward a championship. The goal isn’t for me to go out there and re-hurt myself, trying to force myself to be back in the first few games. The goal has always been playoffs”

Assuming Parsons begins the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, he won’t be eligible to play until Week 5 against the rival Chicago Bears. Certainly, Parsons has the Packers’ Week 6 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys circled.

The Cowboys drafted Parsons 12th overall in 2021, and after four years of utter dominance, Dallas shockingly traded him to the Packers last August.

Before tearing his ACL last season, Parsons had recorded 12.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hits, and 41 tackles for his third First Team All-Pro selection. He also became the first player in NFL history to notch at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons.

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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 12:16 PM.