Micah Parsons has confirmed that he will miss the start of the 2026 NFL season as he continues his rehabilitation from the ACL injury suffered against the Denver Broncos in Week 15 of the 2025 campaign last December.

While the Green Bay pass rusher had previously acknowledged that opening day availability was unlikely, the revelation that he has had a secondary procedure to repair meniscus injuries adds to the timeline being followed by the Packers’ medical staff.

“I think the goal has always just been not right now, but longevity with my career here,” Parsons told reporters during media availability at the Packers’ training facility. “I think [the team] want that approach. We have a pretty strong nine-month rule. Just through the research and the data, there’s no good outcomes with players coming back early from [an] ACL. Especially if you had other things that had to get fixed up, so it’s just all about completing the rehab to the best of our ability and then seeing where we’re at from there.”

Parsons waited two weeks before undergoing surgery on December 29th and the news that the procedure also included meniscus repair helps explain the cautious approach being adopted by Green Bay that effectively rules him out for the opening weeks of the coming season. Under NFL rules, Parsons appears destined for the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, which would sideline him for at least the Packers’ first four games against the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The timing is significant for a Green Bay team built around a defense that ranked among the league’s most disruptive units before Parsons’ injury. Since arriving in Green Bay, the 27-year-old became the centrepiece of Jeff Hafley’s front, bringing elite pass-rush production with the versatility to impact games from multiple alignments. Hafley, of course, is no longer in Wisconsin, having accepted the HC role with the Miami Dolphins.

The Packers’ offseason moves reflected an understanding that they might have to navigate the early part of the schedule without their defensive cornerstone, and Parsons has made it clear that the focus is not on accelerating his return.

“The goal for me is to complete the season, not no relapse, [make the] playoffs and push towards a championship,” he said. “The goal isn’t for me to go out there and re-hurt myself trying to force myself to be back in the first few games. The goal has always been playoffs, and I think we’re all on the same page.”

The encouraging news for Green Bay is that Parsons believes his recovery remains on schedule.

“Just passed my fifth month on May 29th, so extremely happy where we’re at and the direction I’m going,” Parsons said. ” Obviously, I’ve got four more months to go, [but I’ve] just started running on a [treadmill] the past two weeks, so gaining my progression there.”

If all goes according to plan, the projected timeline for Parsons’ return could potentially put him on the field against NFC North rival Chicago Bears in Week 5 or, perhaps more significantly given their history, the Dallas Cowboys a week later.