Packers' Micah Parsons Could Return to Practice Next Week: 'I Sure Hope So'
Matt LaFleur changed his answer on the star edge rusher's practice timeline for the first time, more than 10 months after Parsons' ACL surgery
Micah Parsons might finally be back on the Packers' practice field next week. After weeks of shutting the idea down, coach Matt LaFleur gave a different answer Tuesday when asked whether his star edge rusher would practice next week, ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported.
Every previous time LaFleur fielded that question over the past month and a half, the answer was a quick no, including last week. LaFleur acknowledged the shift.
Parsons tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee on Dec. 14 last year and had surgery two weeks later. He's still on the physically unable to perform list. Once a PUP player returns to practice, the team has three weeks to add him to the active roster or place him on injured reserve, so opening his window starts that clock.
There was no point in starting it this week. Green Bay hosts the Panthers on Thursday night and won't hold regular practices on the short week. Even if Parsons practices next week, Demovsky noted it's highly unlikely he plays in Week 9 at New England. The Packers host the Vikings in Week 10 and then have their bye in Week 11, so they could hold him out until their first game after the bye, at the Rams.