The Green Bay Packers may start the 2025 season without their star pass rusher Micah Parsons. Adam Schefter reported Thursday morning on ESPN's Get Up that Parsons is officially a candidate to be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to begin the season as he continues recovering from a torn ACL suffered on December 14. This is not what the Packers hoped to hear after trading two first-round picks and Kenny Clark to acquire Parsons and signing him to a four-year, $188 million deal with $136 million guaranteed.
Parsons' Injury and Impact
Parsons went down with a season-ending ACL tear on December 14, prematurely ending his first season in Green Bay. He had been everything the Packers wanted, recording 12.5 sacks in 14 games, leading the team by a wide margin. Without him, the Packers collapsed down the stretch, eventually losing a Wild Card game to the division rival Chicago Bears after blowing an 18-point lead.
What the PUP List Means
Being placed on the PUP list at the beginning of the season means Parsons would have to miss at least the first four games. However, there is a small silver lining: the NFL modified its PUP rule, now allowing players to begin a 21-day practice period after the club's second game of the regular season, down from four games previously. So Parsons could be back on the practice field by Week 3. Parsons himself has said he expects to return around Week 3 or 4, with potential targets including a Thursday Night Football home game against the Atlanta Falcons or a road game against Tampa Bay. His most realistic return might be Week 5 against the Bears, setting up a revenge game.
Parsons vs. Mahomes Recovery
Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and torn LCL on the same day as Parsons, December 14. However, Schefter reports Mahomes has a realistic chance of being ready for Week 1, with the Chiefs' coaching staff expecting him to be fully cleared early in training camp. Parsons is flying through rehab in Italy, but Mahomes appears to be recovering faster. The Packers are being cautious with Parsons, but fans are not okay with starting the season without their star defender.
