Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons has stated he does not feel the need for revenge against the Dallas Cowboys, his former team, as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered last season. The two teams are scheduled to face each other in Week 6.
Parsons, who was traded to the Packers from the Cowboys in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL regular season, addressed the narrative surrounding his potential return for the matchup. "So many people wanted me to be back for that game to make the game bigger than what it was," Parsons said on his podcast, "The Edge with Micah Parsons." "It's just another Sunday Night Football game against two good teams. It's not about me. I think that probably let people down. 'Oh, Micah, he's going to want to be back for the Dallas game.' No, I'm in that phase of life where I just wanna be healthy again. That's it. I don’t care about the team I left or the team they think I want my revenge against. I don’t need revenge. I just need two healthy knees to do what I love to do."
He emphasized that he is prioritizing recovery and addressing all necessary aspects of his health before returning to play. Parsons was acquired by the Packers from the Cowboys for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two future first-round picks. He subsequently signed a four-year, $186 million contract extension with Green Bay.
The Packers and Cowboys have already met once since the trade, with a 40-40 tie in Week 4 of the previous season in Dallas. In that game, Parsons recorded one sack and three combined tackles. Prior to his injury in Week 15 of last season, Parsons had accumulated 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 41.0 combined tackles in 14 games with the Packers, earning third All-Pro honors and a fifth Pro Bowl selection.
Last season, the Packers' defense ranked fifth in the NFL in opponent passing yards per game (181.0) and eighth in opponent total yards per game (308.6) when Parsons was active. However, the unit was tied for 14th in opponent points allowed per game (22.4) and tied for 24th in opponent rushing yards per game (127.6).
During his four seasons with the Cowboys from 2021 to 2024, Parsons played 63 regular-season games. He registered 52.5 sacks, ranking 13th in franchise history, and tied for 14th with nine forced fumbles. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons with Dallas and was an All-Pro in 2021 and 2022.
Currently, the Packers hold a 3-2 record and are coming off a 31-7 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Cowboys stand at 2-3 after a 24-16 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.