Green Bay Packers superstar linebacker and edge rusher Micah Parsons is currently recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus damage suffered last December. Parsons was recently placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list by the Packers, and the assumption has been that he would miss at least the first month of the 2026 NFL season.

On Monday, Parsons provided more specifics on his hopeful return date.

Parsons told NFL Network’s Stacey Dales and Brian Baldinger on Monday that the “most optimistic” return date is Week 6 vs. the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 18, which also happens to be a Sunday Night Football game.

Dales posted to X that Parsons “unsolicited crashed [the NFL Network] set” at training camp in Green Bay.

Micah unsolicited crashed our set. He was fantastic. Week 6 is also Sunday Night Football. https://t.co/xeifj2DYc2

— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) August 10, 2026

Parsons, 27, is in the conversation for the best pass rusher in the league. He’s had at least 12 sacks in all five of his NFL seasons and has been known to be a frequent game-wrecker for opposing offenses.

Green Bay acquired Parsons in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys ahead of last season, and he proceeded to record 12.5 sacks with two forced fumbles and 27 quarterback hits over 14 games played before suffering the injury on Dec. 14 against the Denver Broncos.

Is Micah Parsons the best pass rusher in the league?@BaldyNFL thinks so👀@StaceyDales | @MicahhParsons11 | @packers pic.twitter.com/0KxxamXwhr

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 10, 2026

So, we can seemingly rule out at least the first five Green Bay games for Parsons.

The Packers play at the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, at the New York Jets in Week 2, vs. the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3, at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4, and vs. the Chicago Bears in Week 5. Green Bay surely hoped that Parsons would be able to return for the Bears game, and after Chicago won the NFC North division and made a stunning comeback to knock the Packers out of the playoffs in January.

If Parsons is unable to return for Week 6, the next hope would be that he’d be able to play in Week 7 at the Detroit Lions (Sunday, Oct. 25), which shapes up as another crucial game vs. an NFC North rival for Green Bay.