An MRI conducted Monday has confirmed that Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, according to a source cited by ESPN. The injury is expected to end Parsons’ season.
Parsons was injured during the third quarter of Sunday’s 34–26 loss to the Denver Broncos when his knee buckled without contact as he chased quarterback Bo Nix.
This marks the first major injury of Parsons’ NFL career. Aside from missing four games last season due to an ankle injury, he has missed only one other regular-season game since entering the league in 2021.
Following the diagnosis, Parsons shared a message on social media Monday afternoon, describing the setback as his “greatest test” and expressing confidence that he will “rise again.”
Parsons’ debut season with the Green Bay Packers is set to conclude with an impressive 12.5 sacks, a milestone that makes him the first player in NFL history to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons in the league.
Based on the typical recovery timeline for ACL injuries, Parsons could miss time at the start of next season. The Packers generally allow a 10-month recovery period following ACL surgery. Earlier this year, wide receiver Christian Watson returned to game action 294 days after tearing his ACL. If Parsons follows a similar schedule, he could be back by early October next season, potentially sidelining him for at least four games.
In the meantime, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will need to adjust his pass-rush strategy. Parsons led the NFL with 64 total quarterback pressures, according to ESPN Analytics. The next closest Packers defender, Rashan Gary, recorded 28 pressures. That 36-pressure gap is the largest difference between a team’s top two pass rushers in the league this season.
After the game, Gary emphasized the need for the defensive front to step up over the remaining weeks of the season. He revealed that he called a meeting with the defensive linemen to stress consistency and aggression up front.
“We’ve got to find a way to be more consistent and get to where we want to be as a team,” Gary said. “That means shutting things down at the line, playing more aggressively, and staying connected as a unit—especially among the front four.”
Parsons’ injury sent shockwaves not only through the Packers’ locker room but across the NFL, particularly among his former Dallas Cowboys teammates. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said he reached out to Parsons before the game, offering encouragement and confidence in his recovery.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs also shared his emotional reaction, saying he was devastated when he saw the injury and immediately checked in on Parsons. Diggs, who has experienced a similar setback, expressed his support and commitment to being there for Parsons throughout his rehabilitation.
