Micah Parsons Injury Update, Return Timeline for Packers Ahead of 2026 NFL Season

Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons says he's targeting a mid-October return from the knee surgery he underwent last December, USA Today's Ryan Wood reported.

Parsons told reporters Wednesday he underwent a procedure to clean up his meniscus in addition to his ACL repair on Dec. 29.

He added he won't consider coming back until at least the nine-month anniversary of his surgery on Sept. 29.

That timeline would likely sideline Parsons for at least the first six weeks of the 2026 season.

Parsons told reporters Wednesday he was "extremely happy with where we're at and the direction that I'm going."

"I think the goal has always been, not right now, but longevity of my career here. I think they want that approach," Parsons said Wednesday (h/t The Athletic's Matt Schneidman).

"We have a pretty strong nine-month rule. It's just all about, just through the research and data, there's no good outcomes of players coming back early from ACL, especially if you add in all the other things that had to be fixed up."

Placement on the season-opening Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list would keep Parsons on the sidelines through at least Week 4.

The Packers are slated to start out that stretch with three road games at the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in addition to a home game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Green Bay is then set to play two home games against the Chicago Bears in Week 5 (Oct. 11) and Dallas Cowboys in Week 6 (Oct. 18). The Packers don't have a bye until Week 11.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Tuesday that Parsons had been in the building during OTAs earlier that week.

"That was great to see him yesterday, and to see where he's at in that process," LaFleur said about Parsons' recovery.

When asked how Parsons looked, LaFleur answered: "From my eyes, he looks pretty good."

The Packers started out the 2025 season with a 9-3-1 record before losing Parsons to his season-ending knee injury in Week 15.

Green Bay then went 0-4 to finish out the regular season before losing a Wild Card game to the Chicago Bears.

Former Arizona Cardinals coach and recently-hired defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will be tasked with finding a defensive setup that can help the Packers win a game for the first time since Parsons' injury.