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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 07: Micah Parsons #1 of the Green Bay Packers leaves the field after defeating the Chicago Bears 28-21 at Lambeau Field on December 07, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers are coming off a loss in Week 15, a brutal one at that — for more than one reason. Losing a one-score game on the road in Denver to the AFC’s No. 1 seed is tough but understandable. Losing your best player for the season in the process makes it that much harder to stomach.
All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, acquired from the Cowboys just before the season for two first-round picks and DT Kenny Clark, suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s loss, ending his season. Not only that, but the timing of the injury puts Parsons’ availability in 2026 in jeopardy, especially if his rehab hits any setbacks. Even if he plays, he may not be operating at 100 percent capacity for the majority of the season.
The loss also drops the Packers out of the lead in the NFC North, as they are now a half-game behind the Bears. Entering the weekend, Green Bay was the NFC’s No. 2 seed. Now they’ve fallen all the way to the No. 7 seed and are all but eliminated from contention for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, another blow on top of everything else.
Green Bay Packers ED Rashan Gary on His Messaging After the Parsons Injury
GettyGREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 12: Joe Flacco #16 of the Cincinnati Bengals is hit by Rashan Gary #52 of the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter in the game at Lambeau Field on October 12, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
After Sunday’s loss to the Broncos, Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary spoke to some of the Packers’ other defensive linemen about what they need to do and how they need to step up in Parsons’ absence. On Tuesday, some of Green Bay’s beat reporters asked Gary about his comments.
“Just understanding we had a tough loss, but understanding that we still have everything in front of us,” Gary said on what he told his guys. “You know, the guys I pulled aside will be a big reason we get where we end up going by the end of the season. So everybody gotta keep their head, everybody gotta stay focused and make sure that we’re doing one-11.”
“Day one, been great so far,” Gary said on how the team is responding. “Coming in, made our corrections, had a great walkthrough. Just everybody focused, locked in, communicating, and that’s all you can ask for: just day in, day out improvement.”
The Green Bay Packers Have Some Ground to Make Up in the NFC North
Speaking of the Bears, the Packers get a second crack at them on Saturday. With three games to play, Green Bay faces Chicago, Baltimore, and Minnesota. The Packers already defeated the Bears two weeks ago and are only a half-game behind them in the division — they’ll be back in first place in the NFC North with a win on Saturday.
If they lose, however, they could be in some hot water. The Lions are currently sitting outside the playoff picture, but they’re only a game and a half behind the Packers. Should Green Bay slip up twice more, the Lions could steal their wildcard spot, and the Packers could be left out of the playoffs altogether.
Ethan Woodie is an accomplished sports writer specializing in the NFL and college football for Heavy.com. He’s written for Heavy since 2025 and has years of experience writing for NFL Trade Rumors and Pro Football Focus (PFF). Woodie is an expert in draft scouting and his final 2025 Big Board was included in Arif Hasan’s media consensus board for Wide Left. More about Ethan Woodie
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