The Green Bay Packers traded for Micah Parsons exactly 10 days before the Detroit Lions game in the regular season opener. Because he is an edge rusher, it’s realistic to expect that he will soon have a role within the defense, even without much scheme familiarity or a training camp to prepare.
At this point, it’s unclear how much he will play against the Lions on Sept. 7, but the Packers fully expect him to be on the field in some capacity. Certainly, a big extra concern for the divisional rival.
“He’s just getting through the physical right now and we’ll have a chance to get him out there Monday and see where he’s at,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “Certainly, we’re hopeful that he’ll help us in some form or fashion in the opener, but it’s on us to be smart and make sure he’s ready to go.”
For head coach Matt LaFleur and his staff, the big challenge is to get Parsons ready in time to have a real impact on an imperative divisional game to kick off the season.
“It’s going to be a lot of time spent together, a lot of one-on-one time to get him up to speed as quickly as possible,” LaFleur stressed. “More than anything, I’m confident that will happen quickly. We just need to see where he’s at physically before putting him out there for 70 snaps a game.”
Micah Parsons' 12 sacks in 2024.
Via @salibdaniel1 pic.twitter.com/tCjCpyItaY
— Wendell Ferreira (@wendellfp) August 29, 2025
Plan and impact
The Packers have two quality edge rushers in Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness, both former first-round picks—even though Van Ness is still looking to break out in his third NFL season. The main point is that defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will have the tools to ease Parsons in, maximizing his potential to be on the field when it matters the most.
While it was hard for the Packers to part ways with Kenny Clark, the longest-tenured player on the roster, and two first-round picks, Micah Parsons is that caliber of a defender.
“Opportunities to acquire players like this just don’t come around,” Gutekunst explained. “Not only a talent like this, but one who’s proven in the league and whose best football is ahead of him. It was a very unique opportunity to acquire a player like this. In my time, there haven’t been many opportunities like this in the past, and I think it was our responsibility to entertain that and see if it was possible.”
The Packers will open the regular season in Green Bay for the first time since 2018, when Mike McCarthy was still the head coach. It’s a different feeling, and having Micah Parsons on the field will make the level of hope even higher.
