GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - Micah Parsons said he is following a nine-month rehab timeline following ACL surgery, which would put his earliest return in early October.
The Packers pass rusher underwent surgery Dec. 29. Nine months from that date is Sept. 29.
Parsons posted a picture of a scarred lion with the word “September” immediately after surgery.
The first Packers game after the nine-month timeline ends will be Oct. 4 at Tampa in Week 4. Parsons said at locker clean-out day he expected to miss the first three or four games.
“I just passed my fifth month on May 29th. So, extremely happy where we’re at and the direction that I’m going,” Parsons said. “Obviously, we’ve got four more months to go. We just started running (on a machine) the past two weeks. So, gaining my progression there.”
"I definitely would say it's hard to accept."
The Packers' @MicahhParsons11 has accepted that a 9-month timeline from surgery makes sense (Sept 29). But for a man who talks of pushing workouts to the point of pure exhaustion, was that hard to accept? I asked him about it today: pic.twitter.com/BXRNtybImd
— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) June 3, 2026
Parsons prioritizing long-term health
Parsons said his expectation has not changed based on how his rehab has gone.
“I think the goal has always just been, not right now, but longevity with my career here. And I think they want that approach,” Parsons said. “And we have a pretty strong nine-month rule. So, it’s just all about just through the research and the data, there’s no good outcomes with players coming back early from ACL, especially if you add in all the other things that get fixed up. So, it’s just all about completing the rehab the best of our ability and then seeing where we’re at from there.”
If the team ramps up Parsons in practice before the nine-month mark, it is unlikely he would return to practice and play the same week. The Packers play at home against the Bears in Week 5 and the Cowboys in Week 6.
Parsons said he avoids comparing his recovery to other players.
“I don’t like to go on those rabbit holes because then it’s the comparison game. And I don’t want to compare myself to no man’s journey because I don’t know what he went through,” Parsons said. “Everyone is completely different in their processes, whether they’re coming, whatever they had to get cleaned up throughout their surgery. So everyone’s different. Everyone’s bodies are different. Everyone heals different.”
Parsons said accepting the timeline has been difficult.
“I would definitely say it is hard for me to accept. Not only is it hard to accept that, you know, I’m going to miss more time than, you know, what I want, but obviously it’s hard to accept an injury,” Parsons said. “Like, it constantly replays in my brain, constantly thinking about how can I not do it. Like, you don’t even know how much time I spend on ChatGPT about my injury and how to, like, like, I just can’t accept, like, where I’m at. Like, I’m like, man, how do I keep progressing and progressing? Like, and it’s just nonstop. So that’s a very good question. It is, I haven’t accepted it yet, but I work hard as hell every day trying to make sure that I will be better when it comes out of this.”
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