Micah Parsons won’t rush ACL recovery to play Cowboys: ‘don’t need revenge’

· New York Post

Micah Parsons isn’t letting a matchup against his former team dictate his return to the field.

With the Cowboys set to visit Lambeau Field for a Sunday night showdown against the Packers, the superstar pass rusher made it clear that his health takes precedence over any potential payback.

“So many people wanted me to be back for that game to make the game bigger than what it was,” Parsons said on his self-titled podcast this week. “It’s just another ‘Sunday Night Football’ game between two good teams. It’s not about me. I think that probably let people down. ‘Oh, Micah, he’s gonna wanna be back for the Dallas game.’ No. I’m in that phase of life where I just wanna be healthy again. That’s it.

Micah Parsons (1) of the Green Bay Packers looks on prior to the start of the third quarter of a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. Getty Images

“I don’t care about the team I left or the team they think I want my revenge against. I don’t need revenge. I just need two healthy knees to do what I love to do.”

Parsons, who suffered a torn ACL last season, indicated that more time is needed if he wants to avoid re-injury. 

“What a lot of people don’t figure out is it’s not just the ACL,” Parson said. “It’s like, why did the ACL happen? What was weak? Because it all works together. It’s a chain, right? And throughout the history of the ACL, they notice if you come back early, there tends to be an overcompensation injury on the other side … It’s about making sure we do everything right.”

After Parsons was ruled out for Week 6, Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur said that he was getting “closer” to returning to the field but getting the green light “hasn’t happened yet.” 

Green Bay Packers Micah Parsons (1) leaves the field injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“There’s a lot of testing that goes on before he gets medically cleared to get out there,” LaFleur said. “And then I’m sure we’re gonna want to give him some time to get back to playing football. As you see with most guys that are coming off a major injury, it takes a little bit of time.”

Parsons was traded to Green Bay in August 2025 following a contentious contract dispute with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. 

Dallas received defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks in the blockbuster deal, while Parsons signed a four-year, $188 million extension with the Packers.

The four-time Pro Bowler made an immediate impact in Green Bay, recording 12.5 sacks in 14 games before suffering his season-ending knee injury in December.