When the Green Bay Packers pulled off one of the most shocking trades of the offseason by prying Micah Parsons away from the Dallas Cowboys, it was hailed as the type of move that could shift the balance of power in the NFC.
Now, just days before their season opener against the Detroit Lions, the fanfare is colliding with reality: Parsons may not be fully ready to go.
The four-time Pro Bowler, acquired in exchange for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, has been battling a lingering back injury since the summer.
While he has practiced in Green Bay this week, he remains officially listed as questionable, creating uncertainty around what was expected to be a headline-grabbing debut. Head coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged the dilemma on Friday.
“He’s looked limited, but he’s done a nice job in that regard,” LaFleur said. “He’s a freak, so that certainly stands out when he’s out there.”
The Parsons trade was as much about timing as it was about talent. Green Bay, fresh off an 11-6 campaign but still searching for a defensive identity, needed a difference-maker who could pressure quarterbacks and tilt games. Parsons, still only 25, fit that bill perfectly.
Yet his transition has been complicated by the back issue he aggravated during weight training with the Cowboys.
Parsons admitted he “felt a tweak” and “overused it,” calling the setback “a complete accident.” Since then, he’s undergone treatment, including a steroid pack, and hinted that a pregame injection could help him push through the opener.
“I’m still ramping up,” Parsons explained. “Being out for six months, obviously, going through the tightness, the soreness.
“But I’ve got plenty of faith in this training staff and the coaches. If they give me the green light, I’ll be ready. But it’s completely up to them.”
Even if he plays, the Packers are expected to limit his snaps, not only because of the back but also because of a short turnaround to a Thursday night clash with Washington.
Green Bay juggling injuries elsewhere
Parsons isn’t the only concern for LaFleur’s squad. Seven players in total carry a questionable tag heading into Sunday.
Wide receivers Jayden Reed (foot), Dontayvion Wicks (calf), and Savion Williams (hamstring) are all nursing knocks, while cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee), safety Zayne Anderson (knee), and rookie lineman Barryn Sorrell (knee) round out the list.
There was good news for quarterback Jordan Love, who is officially cleared after recovering from thumb surgery. Love practiced without restriction all week, putting to rest any lingering doubts about his availability. Pro Bowl center Elgton Jenkins is also healthy after a minor hip scare.
Receiver Wicks brushed aside concerns about lost chemistry with Love due to limited training camp reps.
“We’ve been practicing, trying to get that timing back down,” he said. “It’s really a detail game. As long as we’re staying on our details, all the plays that present themselves can be made.”
Detroit, meanwhile, enters the opener relatively unscathed. Rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa, who dealt with illness early in the week, is good to go.
The only absentees are backups – linebacker Trevor Nowaske, running back Sione Vaki, and offensive tackle Jamarco Jones – meaning Dan Campbell will have his first-choice starters available for a divisional clash that could carry early-season implications.
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