Is Micah Parsons playing tonight in Cowboys-Packers game? Injury update and status

The historic trade for Micah Parsons still has not delivered the expected benefits for either side. Neither the Dallas Cowboys nor the Green Bay Packers have gotten the results they hoped for since the star pass rusher changed teams, and an injury is now keeping the former Dallas player out of action.

Parsons suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on December 14, 2025 , just months after being traded to Green Bay. The injury halted the start of his tenure with the Packers and has kept him from playing in any games this season.

The defender will not be available this Sunday against the Cowboys in the Week 6 Sunday Night Football matchup, as he continues his recovery process. Parsons remains on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, and Green Bay has not yet opened his practice window.

Although the team has not set an official return date, the four-time Pro Bowl selection is expected to need several weeks of work before he is ready to return to the field.

When will Micah Parsons return for the Packers?

Ahead of the matchup against Dallas, Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur explained that the franchise is waiting for medical clearance before Parsons can rejoin the team.

“As soon as they give us the green light, he’ll be out there,” LaFleur said of Parsons, per YardBarker. “That hasn’t happened yet, but I think we’re getting closer."

The Packers coach highlighted Parsons’ physical gifts and noted that the team is determined to avoid any unnecessary risk during his recovery.

“He’s a physical specimen, a freak of nature, and sometimes you have to make sure your body is in sync. You don’t want one leg to be a lot stronger than the other.”

The Parsons trade has not been perfect either

The move that sent Parsons to Green Bay has not produced an immediate payoff for either organization.

Since the linebacker’s departure, the Cowboys’ defense has become one of the most vulnerable units in the NFL, while the Packers have had to wait to see the impact of their new star because of the injury.

In exchange for Parsons, Dallas received defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks (2026 and 2027). The Cowboys later used part of that draft capital to acquire defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in a trade with the New York Jets .

“We have to play better all across the boards,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said of the Parsons trade, per ESPN .

“I think [Parsons is] a terrific player. I’m looking forward to seeing him, but I like the picks that we got from Micah. I think we’ve done some really great things getting those picks."

Schottenheimer expressed hope that, over time, the decision will prove its value through the players Dallas was able to add to its roster.