Quarterbacks, you have been warned.
Green Bay Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons is inching closer to a return to the field. Parsons hasn't played since suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the Packers' Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos on Dec. 14, 2025. The star also suffered some damage to his meniscus.
A potential target of returning in Week 6 came and went without Parsons even getting back on the practice field, which begged the question – when will he actually play again?
Head coach Matt LaFleur seemed to indicate that could be coming soon, at least in the form of a return to practice ahead of Week 9.
"I sure hope so," LaFleur said on Oct. 27, acknowledging that it's a different answer than he has given previously.
"At the end of the day, that's the medical [decision]. Yeah, I'm itching [for] it, though, for sure."
What does a Parsons return mean for the Packers? Here's what to know.
What Micah Parsons' return means for NFC playoff picture
The Packers are 4-3 after seven weeks and stuck in the basement of the NFC North. That's the reality of playing in arguably the league's toughest division this season, so a playoff spot is far from guaranteed.
It appears that Green Bay will have to fight for a wild-card spot to reach the postseason, but Parsons' eventual return should help. The Packers are ninth in pressure rate (38.8%) even without the star, according to Next Gen Stats.
Despite his absence, the unit stabilized after a tough start under defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who is in his first year with the team.
In his first five seasons, Parsons never totaled fewer than 12 sacks – a sign of what the Packers could expect in his return. A game-wrecker who demands extra attention and double teams from opposing offenses, the pass rusher could free up someone like Lukas Van Ness.
The Iowa product leads the team with just 3.5 sacks.
In other words, the Packers are getting pressure but are failing to bring the quarterback down, ranking in the middle of the pack with 14 sacks.
Adding Parsons to that unit should transform a defense that could certainly use him. It would also take some pressure off an offense that has proven explosive this season. With the return of Josh Jacobs, Green Bay can win on the ground and through the air.
Provided the Packers can stay afloat until his return, Green Bay will be as well-positioned as any team for the stretch run. And if they remain healthy?
Then the Packers might be legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
When will Micah Parsons return?
Parsons is still awaiting clearance for a return to practice, but the hope is that it could come soon.
The star previously pointed out that he is eager to get back on the field, but he's also cognizant of handling the rehab properly, which he discussed on his podcast, "The Edge with Micah Parsons"
"If the Super Bowl was this week, I'm playing in the Super Bowl," Parsons said on his podcast on Oct. 13. "But it's just about me making sure I have all the small things fixed first.
"What a lot of people don't figure out is it's not just the ACL. It's like, why did the ACL (tear) happen? What was weak? Because it all works together. It's a chain. And throughout the history of ACL, they notice if you come back early, there tends to be an overcompensation injury on the other side."
The Packers have just three games left before their Week 11 bye. If the team wants to be cautious and maximize the schedule, they could keep Parsons out and let him return in Week 12.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Micah Parsons could make the Packers legitimate Super Bowl contenders
