New Packers Rumors on Micah Parsons, Tucker Kraft's Timeline to Return from Injuries

The Green Bay Packers are likely to open the season without star linebacker Micah Parsons as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday on Get Up that "the feeling within the organization has been that Parsons would miss the early part of the season and be back early on."

The conversation begins at the 7:10 mark.

The Packers could place the five-time Pro Bowler on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would sideline him for at least the first four games.

The prognosis is better for tight end Tucker Kraft, who's also working his way back from a torn ACL. According to Schefter, the Packers believe he could suit up in Week 1.

Parsons went down in mid-December with just three games left in the regular season. Given both the timing and the severity of the injury, the initial thought was he'd be unavailable in Week 1 and likely longer.

Kraft, meanwhile, saw his season end in early November. Thanks to that difference of a few weeks, he isn't facing the same race against the clock to get cleared for the opener.

The NFL hasn't yet released the full schedule for this year, but fans at least know when Week 1 will fall. The San Francisco 49ers will play the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 in Melbourne, Australia, while the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos get the first Monday Night Football slot on Sept. 14.

Thursday's schedule release will lay out the road ahead for the Packers and the other 31 teams. Assuming Parsons is out for multiple games to start, Green Bay might at least get a somewhat easy draw where his absence won't be felt as much.