-
Rob Demovsky
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Micah Parsons has not yet had surgery to repair the torn left ACL he suffered Sunday, but it hasn’t been unusual for Green Bay Packers players to wait several days or even a week before undergoing reconstructive knee surgery.
The date of the surgery will help determine when Parsons could play next season, but based on the last three Packers starters who had ACL reconstruction, the team can expect to open next season without their star edge rusher.
«He’s about to have another child here pretty quick,» Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Tuesday when asked if Parsons underwent surgery yet. «Not that that’s going to impact the specific timeline of the surgery, but he’s down there dealing with that.»
LaFleur said he did not know where or with which doctor Parsons planned to have his surgery.
Playoff Machine »
• Playoff picture » | Standings » | More »
If Parsons’ timeline follows the most recent Packers player to undergo that surgery, it’s possible he could miss only the first three games of the season. That’s based on reports that the 2026 NFL season is expected to open with a Thursday night game on Sept. 10.
Christian Watson, who tore his ACL in the final week of last year’s regular season, was back 294 days after his injury, making his return the fastest among their last three starters to suffer the same injury during the season. On the Watson timeline, Parsons would be able to play on Oct. 4 — which would be the Sunday of Week 4.
On the longer end was defensive end Rashan Gary, who played 308 days after tearing ACL on Nov. 6, 2022. It’s possible Gary could have played sooner, because his return was the 2023 season opener. That timeline would mean Parsons could miss the first four to six games depending on what day the Packers play and/or if they have an early season bye.
In the middle was Elgton Jenkins, who played 302 days after his ACL tear on Nov. 21, 2021. He returned in Week 2 of the 2022 season. That timeline would mean Parsons could miss the first four or five games depending on what day the Packers played that week and/or if they have an early-season bye.
How teams complain to NFL about refs’ calls
• Bucs-Panthers showdown for NFC South
• Keys to Bo Nix’s improved play for Broncos
• What to make of Shedeur’s first 4 starts
• What will decide Gannon’s Cardinals fate?
• When might Micah Parsons return from ACL?
Other factors in Parsons’ return include potential setbacks during his recovery and whether any other parts of his left knee needed to be repaired. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who tore an ACL just hours before Parsons did, had surgery Monday; he also had a tear to his LCL.
«I don’t want to get into the specifics,» LaFleur said when asked if Parsons had any other injuries. «I just know it was the ACL in my conversations, but as far as the specifics of it, I’m not going to get into it.»
Parsons was one of 16 players listed on the Packers’ injury report Tuesday in advance of Saturday’s game at the Bears (8:20 p.m. ET, Fox).
Among them were eight players, not including Parsons, who didn’t practice: Watson (chest/shoulder), running back Josh Jacobs (knee/wrist), running back MarShawn Lloyd (calf/hamstring), right tackle Zach Tom (back/knee), defensive end Lukas Van Ness (foot), tight end Josh Whyle (concussion), receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) and receiver Savion Williams (knee).
