The Green Bay Packers may have to finish out the 2025 season without their most important defensive player, as the team believes pass rusher Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL during their Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos, according to multiple reports. Further testing is required to confirm the initial diagnosis.
On a first-and-10 in the third quarter, Parsons fought his way to Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, but planted awkwardly with his left leg. He immediately went down holding his knee.
Check out what happened here:
Parsons remained on the turf for several moments as he was attended to by trainers. Players from both teams took knees around the star pass rusher — who was eventually able to get up and walk to the locker room with the medical staff.
If it is indeed a torn ACL for Parsons, his recovery timeline could carry deep into the offseason and threaten his availability for the 2026 opener. While ACL recoveries generally take 6-8 months, CBS Sports injury analyst Marty Jaramillo says that Parsons’ explosiveness as an edge rusher could force him to ease back into action more slowly than if he played a different position.
“When you have that kind of speed, that talent that he was born with … that’s going to delay the rehab just a little bit,” Jaramillo said on CBS Sports HQ. “Once we get the ACL healed and he strengthens his entire body and he’s ready to start running, then we start adding change of direction. The constant cutting in all directions with also stop-go acceleration, that’s the real window. We’re going to look at him in possibly 8-10 months for an athlete at that position, someone as explosive as Micah Parsons.”
Entering Sunday, Parsons had recorded 39 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 26 QB hits and a forced fumble this season. He became the first player since sacks became an official stat in 1982 to begin a career with five seasons of at least 12 sacks.
The Packers, of course, acquired Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys just weeks before the season started in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. Once the trade was official, Green Bay gave Parsons the contract extension he was seeking — a four-year, $188 million deal.
Parsons was regarded by the franchise as an X-factor for a potential Super Bowl run, but now, Green Bay will have to move forward without its sack leader.
