Eagles' Nick Sirianni Reacts to Micah Parsons Trade Ahead of NFL Opener vs. Cowboys

The Philadelphia Eagles won't have to face Micah Parsons ahead of Thursday night's season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys, following his shocking trade to the Green Bay Packers, but the Birds are focusing on who will be on the field.

"We have so much going on here," head coach Sirianni told reporters while discussing the Parsons trade. "We're getting ready to play the Cowboys, so he's in your thoughts for game planning, but they still have guys that we have to prepare for. They have Kenny Clark, who's a really good player, and they have good depth at that defensive end group. You don't get too wrapped up in that except for some of the things you're doing with the game plan. But, also understanding that they have a lot of good players over there and getting ready for those guys and shifting your attention to that."

Star offensive tackle Jordan Mailata also addressed the absence of Parsons.

"A sigh of relief," he told reporters Sunday, laughing, when asked what preparations were like now that Parsons isn't in Dallas. "I say that as a joke, but at the same time, it's just kinda crazy. For the last four, five years we've played the Cowboys, we've come up with a game plan, because Micah's a gamer. So it is a sigh of relief that you don't have to plan like that anymore. However, that is a talented D-line and talented defense, so you've got to treat them with the same respect with or without Parsons."

The Eagles would have been favorites on Thursday with or without Parsons on the other sideline following last season's Super Bowl conquest (DraftKings has the Eagles at -7.5 in the opener and +700 to win the Super Bowl). They've also won the matchup three of the past four times.

But Parsons was traditionally good against the Birds, accumulating five sacks in seven career games. He'll have his chance to increase that total in Week 10 when the Eagles travel to Lambeau Field for a Monday night showdown.