Micah Parsons Prioritizes Health Over Revenge Game

Micah Parsons, the star pass rusher, is emphasizing his long-term health over any desire for a revenge game against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. The Green Bay Packers player, who is recovering from a torn ACL, stated that his priority is to be healthy enough to play football again, rather than rushing back for a specific game.

"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. "It’s just another ‘Sunday Night Football’ game between two good teams. It’s not about me. I think that probably let people down. ‘Oh, Micah, he’s gonna wanna be back for the Dallas game.’ No. I’m in that phase of life where I just wanna be healthy again. That’s it."

Parsons, who suffered his injury last season, indicated that a premature return could lead to further complications. He explained that the rehabilitation process involves more than just healing the ACL itself, noting the interconnectedness of the body's mechanics.

"What a lot of people don’t figure out is it’s not just the ACL," Parsons said. "It’s like, why did the ACL happen? What was weak? Because it all works together. It’s a chain, right? And throughout the history of the ACL, they notice if you come back early, there tends to be an overcompensation injury on the other side … It’s about making sure we do everything right."

Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Parsons is progressing in his recovery but has not yet received medical clearance. LaFleur acknowledged that returning players often need time to regain their form after significant injuries.

"There’s a lot of testing that goes on before he gets medically cleared to get out there," LaFleur said. "And then I’m sure we’re gonna want to give him some time to get back to playing football. As you see with most guys that are coming off a major injury, it takes a little bit of time."

Parsons was traded to the Packers in August 2025 following a contract dispute with the Cowboys. The trade involved Dallas receiving defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks, while Parsons signed a four-year extension with Green Bay. In his first season with the Packers, the four-time Pro Bowler recorded 12.5 sacks in 14 games before his season-ending injury in December.