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Micah Parsons #1 of the Green Bay Packers looks on against the Dallas Cowboys before the game at AT&T Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers are still facing a concerning situation surrounding superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons.
Parsons, who was acquired in exchange for two first-round picks last offseason, put together a strong first year with the franchise. Unfortunately, late in the season, he went down with a torn ACL that ended his season prematurely.
Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL season, Parsons is expected to miss at least a few games to begin the year. The Packers are going to badly miss his pass rushing ability. There are also concerns about how strong he’ll bounce back when he does return to the field.
Throughout his career thus far, Parsons has relied on his athleticism and violent pass rushing style. Coming off of a torn ACL can take some of that explosiveness away for a bit. Parsons may need to ramp back up for some weeks after his return.
That could lead Green Bay to considering an aggressive move to calm the concern.
Packers Could Make Aggressive Move to Calm Micah Parsons Concerns
Chris Schad of Dairyland Express has suggested that the Packers should consider signing a former No. 1 overall pick to add more pass rushing.
Of course, that former No. 1 pick is none other than Jadeveon Clowney, who played well last year with the Dallas Cowboys.
“The Packers could use another fast start to compete in a wide-open NFC race,” Schad wrote. “Even if Clowney’s inconsistencies pop up, he’d be a perfect bridge in this situation that could help Green Bay survive Parsons’ absence, whether that’s only for a handful of games or longer.”
Brian Gutekunst and the front office should hold nothing back from pursuing a Super Bowl this season. Not having Parsons for the first three or four games of the season could put them in a tough situation to begin the year.
Green Bay Can’t Afford to Have a Slow Start to 2026
Simply looking at the NFC North, the journey to the playoffs will be difficult. Green Bay cannot get off to a slow start that puts them in a hole.
If the Packers were to get off to a 1-3 or even 2-2 start, they would be facing an uphill battle to win the division. Even getting into the playoffs would be difficult to navigate with the NFC improving around them.
Signing Clowney would give Green Bay a proven pass rusher for the start of the season. He ended the 2025 campaign with 41 tackles, 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and four defended passes in 13 games with the Cowboys.
That production could go a long way towards helping the Packers weather the storm until Parsons returns.
Whether or not Green Bay is interested in making an aggressive move to address the pass rush remains to be seen. It’s something that Packers and Gutekunst should seriously consider.
Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey
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