Getty
Pass-rusher Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers.
The Green Bay Packers‘ loss of Micah Parsons for the season was arguably the biggest injury of the year in the NFL, given his importance to the defense of a true Super Bowl contender down the stretch run in a top-heavy and ultra competitive NFC.
And while the Packers continue to battle this weekend for the division crown, as well as their playoff life and positioning, Parsons is engaged in a different kind of fight. The superstar edge-rusher, just 26 years old and in his fifth professional season, is working to come back from an ACL tear and dealing with the mental and emotional challenges that brings on top of the obvious physical obstacles.
Parsons took to social media on Christmas Day, penning a heartfelt and inspiring message about his navigation of a novel and trying experience.
Two weeks in, I’ve accepted the pain and the reality of this journey. Some days are heavy, some days aren’t but every day brings its own fight. My courage, my strength, and my mind have all been tested. Still, I won’t stop. I won’t quit until I’m back. I’m grateful God chose me.
“Two weeks in, I’ve accepted the pain and the reality of this journey. Some days are heavy, some days aren’t, but every day brings its own fight,” Parsons wrote. “My courage, my strength, and my mind have all been tested. Still, I won’t stop. I won’t quit until I’m back. I’m grateful God chose me. Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas. #Thankful.”
Micah Parsons Made Pro Bowl in First Season With Packers Despite Injury
GettyGreen Bay Packers pass-rusher Micah Parsons.
Parsons went down with the non-contact injury against the Denver Broncos in Week 15.
He finished the year with 26 quarterback hits, 12.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Despite playing just 14 games, Parsons earned Pro Bowl honors for the fifth consecutive year in 2025.
Parsons joined the Packers via a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys that included two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
The move came seemingly out of the blue, even though the Cowboys and Parsons had been negotiating hard for several weeks and some clear fractures between the pass-rusher and Dallas owner Jerry Jones came to light in the process.
Through Week 16, which includes the last two-plus games without Parsons, the Packers are 10th against the run, ninth against the pass and sixth overall based on yardage surrendered, per ESPN statistics.
Jordan Love’s Status in Question for Packers’ Critical Game Against Ravens in Week 17
GettyQuarterback Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers
Not only will the Packers play the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17 without Parsons, they may also be down starting quarterback Jordan Love.
Love suffered a concussion late in the second half against the Chicago Bears last Saturday after a hit from defensive end Austin Booker, which resulted in a roughing the passer call. Love was unable to return to the contest and remains in the league’s mandatory concussion protocol as of Thursday.
Still, Love was a limited participant in practice on both Tuesday and Wednesday, though the team faces a tough break by playing on Saturday, December 27 rather than Sunday.
Backup QB Malik Willis also suffered a shoulder injury late in the fourth quarter against Chicago and is also battling an illness. He was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday but did not practice on Thursday.
The Packers need to win both of their final two games, and also need the Bears to lose their last two contests to capture the NFC North Division. Green Bay (9-5-1) is currently the No. 7 seed in the NFC and can only lose that wildcard spot to the Detroit Lions (8-7), per NFL.com.
Max Dible covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible
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