Micah Parsons Reportedly 'Was Doing Everything He Could' to Play in Cowboys' Opener

Even though Micah Parsons had been frustrated with the state of his contract talks with the Dallas Cowboys prior to being traded to the Green Bay Packers, he was putting in the work necessary to try being on the field for the season opener if a deal didn't materialize.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Don Van Natta Jr., one Cowboys source said they believed Parsons "was doing everything he could" to play for them against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.

In addition to his contract standoff with the Cowboys, Parsons has been dealing with the back injury throughout training camp and the preseason.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Parsons is nursing an L4/L5 facet joint sprain in his back that could require an epidural injection before the Packers host the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Even though Parsons' status is uncertain at this point, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted he is expected to play in the season opener.

Schefter added the Cowboys had Parsons on a five-day plan of an anti-Inflammatory corticosteroid to treat the injury before they traded him.

Parsons was a regular presence with the Cowboys throughout training camp and the preseason, though he wasn't participating in practices or games while waiting a resolution to his contract situation.

There was also a situation in Dallas' preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 22 that garnered a lot of attention. Parsons was seen laying on a medical table set up on the field in the second quarter.

Parsons responded to the criticism he received by writing on X that he would "never disrespect the guys out there fighting for their lives."

Fowler and Van Natta noted Parsons' behavior throughout camp "rubbed many in the building, including in the locker room, the wrong way" and one person with the Cowboys described it as "deflating."

The report also noted that Parsons was "engaged" in team meetings and "conducted his own two-a-days" to keep himself in game shape for the start of the regular season.

Ultimately, though, the Cowboys decided to move in a different direction by sending him to Green Bay one week before kicking off the season. It's a deal that seems risky on paper given how dominant Parsons has been over the past four seasons.

The Cowboys will instead look to defeat the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles without Parsons at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday. They haven't won in Philadelphia since Week 18 of the 2021 season.