GREEN BAY, Wis. – Will new Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday?
“Well, we’ll see,” coach Matt LaFleur said before Wednesday’s practice.
Parsons, who was acquired in a trade with the Cowboys on Thursday, sat out all of training camp in a contract dispute and is dealing with a back injury. However, he was healthy enough to pass his physical. He practiced on Monday, the team’s first since the trade, and was on the field in pads on Wednesday.
Officially, he was limited participation.
“He’s doing everything in his power,” LaFleur said. ‘He’s rehabbing hard. You know, we’ve got to get through a couple practices to see how he responds, to see how he does. But certainly hopeful.”
Only two players did not practice. One was cornerback Nate Hobbs, who had knee surgery early in training camp. Hobbs wasn’t in pads but he did a little footwork drills alongside the defensive backs.
The other is receiver Jayden Reed, who sat out the preseason with a foot injury. He practiced last week; that he didn’t practice on Wednesday was part of the plan. He expects to be limited participation later in the week.
Reed said it’s a pain-management issue.
“Once my adrenaline’s running, I’m fine most of the time, but probably afterwards where I feel it the most,” he said. “While I’m out there running during the play, my adrenaline’s running pretty well so I don’t feel it as much.”
Center Elgton Jenkins, who did not practice on Monday due to a hip injury, was back at practice. As expected, he was limited participation.
“I’m good now,” he said.
Several other players who ended training camp on the sideline due to injuries – receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf), safety Zayne Anderson (knee), guard Aaron Banks (back), receiver Savion Williams (hamstring) and Barryn Sorrell (knee) – practiced, as well. From that group, Banks isn’t even on the injury report and the other four were limited.
With Jenkins and Banks practicing, Green Bay’s No. 1 offensive line was intact.
“It’s going to be good,” left tackle Rasheed Walker said of his chemistry with Banks and the rest of the offensive line. “O-line is all about being prepared and doing your jobs. Shoot, we’re all relying on each other so I have faith that everything will work out how it should work out.”
As for Parsons, this is obviously a critical week. It’s not as if he signed a contract extension in the middle of August and could hit the ground running for Week 1.
One, he’s got to learn the playbook. Two, he’s got to get into shape after not really having any vigorous football activities since Week 18 of last season.
The playbook portion of the equation is going well because of his intelligence. His defensive coordinator in Dallas last season, the venerable Mike Zimmer, called Parsons “brilliant” and “very” smart.
That’s come across quickly to LaFleur.
“We’ve had a lot of meetings with him, so we’re very fortunate,” LaFleur said. “I would say he’s got an extremely high football IQ. You can tell just sitting down with him for even a limited time, like this guy’s a smart guy. So, I don’t think he’ll have any issues.
“And certainly, as you game plan, you kind of shrink your playbook, so you’re pretty specific with what you’re going to ask him to do. But I don’t foresee that being a problem. I think he’s got a high capacity, just really smart guy.”
Meanwhile, in Detroit, premier defensive end Aidan Hutchinson will be back in the lineup. He had 7.5 sacks in just five games last season before a season-ending broken leg. He missed both games against the Packers.
“Very excited. Can’t wait to watch him go,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Tuesday. “He’s put in a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of hard work to get back to where he’s at right now. When you have the game taken away from you for whatever reasons, it just gives you a little extra motivation to come back. So, I’m excited to watch him. He’s going to be ready to go. He’ll be ready to go.”
Packers
Did not participate: WR Jayden Reed (foot), CB Nate Hobbs (knee),
Limited participation: S Zayne Anderson (knee), C Elgton Jenkins (hip), DE Micah Parsons (back), DE Barryn Sorrell (knee), WR Dontayvion Wicks (calf), WR Savion Williams (hamstring).
Full participation: QB Jordan Love (left thumb).
Lions
Did not participate: LB Trevor Nowaske (elbow), RB Sione Vaki (hamstring).
Limited participation: G Kayode Awosika (shoulder), WR Isaac TeSlaa (illness).
As promised after the earlier doomsday story, here are three reasons why the #Packers will win this year's Super Bowl. ⬇️https://t.co/iJo7vJsZpF
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) September 3, 2025
