It seems a fully healthy Micah Parsons was not traded away from the Cowboys last week.
Following the star linebacker’s departure from Dallas and a four-year, $188 million contract agreement with the Packers, Parsons may not be available Week 1 due to a L4/L5 facet joint sprain in his back, according to multiple reports on Monday.
The four-time Pro Bowler may get an epidural injection ahead of the Packers’ season opener against the Lions if needed to help his availability.
Prior to the trade, the Cowboys reportedly had Parsons on a physical therapy program and prescribed him a five-day plan of an anti-Inflammatory corticosteroid to help aid back tightness.
He has been practicing this week leading up to home opener and for all the contract drama during the preseason to get to Green Bay, Parsons is likely itching be in action alongside his new team.
However, one source told ESPN it’s uncertain if he will play.
Parsons, entering the final year of his rookie contract, has been one of the best edge rushers since he entered the NFL in 2012 out of Penn State. He’s racked up 52.5 sacks across four years, including 12 in 13 games last year, to give him a 90 grade on Pro Football Focus.
The Harrisburg, Penn. native was seeking a new deal with the Cowboys, which led to a training camp hold-in.
The trade was a surprising end to the ordeal, with the Cowboys coming off a disappointing 7-10 season in 2024 that extended their 30-year NFC Championship drought.
Owner Jerry Jones’ answer in the aftermath was that he believes the Cowboys can win more without Parsons than if they signed him. He also noted that Dallas has a priority in improving their defense against the run game.
“We need to stop the run,” Jones said. “We haven’t been able to stop the run at key times for several years.”
Quarterback Dak Prescott, who predicted that Parsons would stay in the blue and silver, weighed in on the trade which brought defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks to Dallas — and how it would affect the locker room.
“That would have been a lot more of a headache and distraction than getting a solution to it,” he told reporters.
The Cowboys open the season on Thursday night against the Eagles and won’t face the Packers until Sept. 28.
