The Green Bay Packers have their eyes firmly locked on the end of the regular season and, hopefully, a playoff run that culminates in a first Super Bowl ring for quarterback, Jordan Love and head coach, Matt LaFleur.
Even with the focus being the ensuing couple of months, there is no doubt that a portion of both the fanbase and the team itself will be looking towards 2026.
Having lost both All-Pro edge rusher, Micah Parsons and tight end, Tucker Kraft, for the season with ACL tears, thoughts will start to move towards looking at when the pair – who comprise two of the Packers’ top five players on the roster – will return.
With Parsons’ injury fresh on the mind; having only just gotten his diagnosis on Sunday evening after suffering the knee tear in the afternoon loss to the Denver Broncos; thoughts are starting to turn to exactly when the former Dallas Cowboy may be available to return to the field next year.
Micah Parsons Unlikely To Be Ready By Start Of 2026 Season
Due to the late nature of the injury, suffering it in December, there is no guarantee that he will be ready come the start of the 2026 regular season. And writing on December 17th, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky outlined some possible scenarios for the length of time it could take Parsons to recover.
“If Parsons’ timeline follows the most recent Packers player to undergo that surgery [Christian Watson],” Demovsky wrote, “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.”
Yet, three games is on the shorter end, and there are yet far less ideal outcomes for the Ohio State alum.
“On the longer end was defensive end Rashan Gary, who played 308 days after tearing ACL on Nov. 6, 2022.” Demovsky continued. “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.”
History Points To Parsons Missing A Month Of 2026 Action
The third historical example comes as a mid-point of the other two – 302 days – approximately equidistant from 294 and 308 days respectively.
“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.”
Barring a miraculously fast recovery, the Packers will likely see Parsons spend 300-ish days on the sidelines, and will miss around a month of action.
There is always the case that Parsons – as an athletic freak and elite-caliber player – could manage to be ready a month ahead of the average and start the season. But, realistically, Green Bay fans should be mentally equipped to handle the looming reality that their best defensive player will probably not be stepping onto the field during the team’s 2026 season opener.
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