Parsons in doubt: Debut with Packers vs Lions? Concern about injury

Micah Parsons: Progressing for His Packers Debut

After three practices, Micah Parsons has not experienced setbacks with his back injury, but he still needs to overcome some obstacles before securing his debut with the Green Bay Packers in the season opener against the Detroit Lions. Parsons, who passed his physical to complete the Cowboys’ transfer last week, continues with the treatments he started in Dallas.

“I’m still in the conditioning process,” Parsons said after Thursday’s practice. “It’s a process of getting myself ready for football. After being out for six months, obviously, going through the strain, the pain, but I have a lot of faith that this great training staff and the coaches are gradually giving me the plays and the things I need if we decide to give me the green light. Although the final decision is up to the coaches.”

Micah Parsons

A key aspect was overcoming the practice with pads on Wednesday, the first time Parsons has used pads since last season.

“I think he was able to do what we had planned for him today,” coach Matt LaFleur commented on Thursday. “So he’s doing a good job with that.”

Matt LaFleur

Parsons is open to receiving an injection to help with his back, if necessary.

“Let’s see what happens with that,” Parsons said. “Right now, we take the steroid pack that I got from the Cowboys last week, and we started last week while I was being treated there… We finished the pack and I hope that works plus the treatment so I can be 100 percent.”

Micah Parsons

Although Parsons is new to the Packers, he seems to be adapting well, especially with regard to NFC North rivalries.

“I felt like Dallas and Detroit already had a rivalry,” Parsons said. “I’ve already built that rivalry and I’m excited to play against them. I never liked Detroit. Never liked it. Even when I was in Dallas, it’s always a heavyweight fight, every time they came… I’m excited to play against them, I’m very excited, and it’s going to last the 12, 15 rounds”.

Micah Parsons

Parsons also praised defensive end Lukas Van Ness, who likely would have been a starter if Parsons hadn’t been acquired, and his line mates.

“I really like how he plays,” Parsons said. “He plays that run well, gets up vertically really well. I know I can count on him for a ‘bull rush’. Just understanding and learning people’s play styles, I really like how everyone has been practicing. Even some of the interior players, even though they lost Kenny Clark, you can tell it really helped them a lot.”

Micah Parsons

“I told them I’ve never been around a group full of 3-techs who can rush and play the run like that, and they’re a bunch of young guys. So I’m extremely excited about the group, the linebacker group, even the young DB corps they have back there. I think it’s going to be an exciting year.” Parsons was also impressed with the number of players he saw at the team’s facilities on Tuesday, the players’ day off.

“I came on Tuesday to get treatment and I saw almost all the guys in the locker room,” Parsons said. “I said, ‘This is the first time I’ve seen this.’ And that shows how much these guys want to be here.”

Micah Parsons

Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said his mind started going “100 miles per hour” thinking about ways he can use Parsons, though the DC didn’t offer any hints about what he has planned for him immediately. But quarterback Jordan Love offered his vision of Parsons, even for Sunday’s player introductions. He said he wants the defensive players to be introduced with Parsons coming out of the tunnel at the end.

“The crowd will go wild, I see it,” Love said. “I see it. The defense comes out first. Get a three and out. Micah gets a sack on third down. I see it. I see it.”

Jordan Love

Parsons responded: “I haven’t visualized that yet, but I love a prophet. As long as he’s praying and praying well, I’ll accept that prophecy, for sure. I’ll accept it.”

Micah Parsons