Brian Gutekunst shares update on Micah Parsons’ goal for Cowboys game

Green Bay Packers star pass-rusher Micah Parsons is beginning the 2026 regular season on the physically unable to perform list amid his ongoing recovery from the torn ACL he suffered this past December. 

Parsons made it known he wants to be in the lineup for the Packers’ Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys, his former club, on Oct. 18. While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst suggested that Parsons is on track to play against Dallas in that “Sunday Night Football” matchup.

Packers will be “pretty cautious” with Micah Parsons after “big investment”

Per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Gutekunst said the Packers have a “pretty good idea” that Parsons will be “pretty close” to playing after the 27-year-old misses the first four games of the season while on the PUP list. 

“I’m going to be pretty cautious with that,” Gutekunst said about Parsons’ eventual return. “We’ve got a big investment there. It’s really important to what we’re trying to do.” 

Parsons spent much of last summer in the middle of an ugly contract dispute with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones. Dallas ultimately traded Parsons to Green Bay in August 2025, and he then received a four-year, $188M contract that included $136M guaranteed from the Packers. 

Micah Parsons already “really eager” to return

Parsons led all Green Bay players last season with 12.5 sacks over 14 games before he went down with his injury. As much as he may want to chase Cowboys quarterback and friend Dak Prescott on Oct. 18, Gutekunst isn’t yet making any guarantees about Parsons’ status for that game. 

“To accomplish the goals we want to late in the year, he’s going to need to be at his best,” Gutekunst added. “So I want to make sure that that happens. But he’s eager. There’s a new rule this year where we can open their (practice) window to practice after the second game. I imagine when that time comes, there’s going to be some conversations about things…because he’s going to be really eager to get out there.”

For now, the Parsons-less Packers will focus on trying to open the season with a win at the rival Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 13.