Packers' Micah Parsons cleared to return to practice, takes part in individual drills as he begins ramp-up

Green Bay Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons is nearing his return to game action after suffering an ACL tear in his left knee in Week 15 against the Denver Broncos last season. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)Patrick McDermott via Getty ImagesAn NFL Network report surfaced over the weekend that the Green Bay Packers and star pass rusher Micah Parsons are targeting their Thanksgiving Eve road game against the Los Angeles Rams for his return to game action. On Wednesday, Parsons took a significant step toward making that holiday comeback. Head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that Parsons was cleared to return to practice, and the sack artist took part in individual drills, beginning his ramp-up.While Parsons is only a limited practice participant at this point, his first practice since he tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee more than 320 days ago is of course notable.It’s been close to 11 months since the Packers played a game with the four-time All-Pro.“I think it's great,” LaFleur said Wednesday, when asked what Parsons being back on the practice field does for the group’s morale. “I think it's been a long time coming, and he's put a lot of effort and work into this. To get him back out there will be a big boost for our team.”LaFleur later added: “A lot of people in our building have done a great job with him, and we'll just see where it goes.”More from Micah Parsons’ first practice since he tore his ACL and meniscus 324 days ago.Parsons had a sleeve on his left knee and went through individual drills during the open portion of practice. It started raining a few minutes after the media viewing period, so perhaps the… pic.twitter.com/DAvKZKRX24— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) November 4, 2026Parsons’ 21-day window to be activated from the physically unable to perform list is now open.A reporter inquired Monday if the Packers are entering that window anticipating the 27-year-old Parsons will need need all 21 days."I would just say, like everything around here, it's pretty fluid in terms of how he responds and just the progress he's going to hopefully continue to make leading up to when he's available,” LaFleur said.He then noted: “If I had to bet on it, it's going to be more toward the longer end than the shorter end.”He’s back pic.twitter.com/x0havep5Sk— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 4, 2026As captured by multiple reporterson site Wednesday, Parsons was wearing a sleeve on his left knee while going through his first drills back.Parsons’ absence was sorely missed down the stretch of the 2025 campaign. After he suffered the injury in a Week 15 road loss to the Denver Broncos on Dec. 14, Green Bay went on to drop four more games in a row to end the season, including their wild-card matchup versus the rival Chicago Bears in the playoffs.This season, the 5-3 Packers’ defense has managed without Parsons on the field. Led by first-year Green Bay defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, the unit ranks 10th in the NFL with 20.5 points per game allowed. Plus, it’s tied for sixth in the league with 22 sacks.Adding Parsons back into the fold should take Green Bay to an even higher level of play on that side of the ball.“I mean, he's a generational talent,” LaFleur said Wednesday. “He definitely flips the favor of the field into your court in regards to his ability to win his 1-on-1s. And I think, like we saw a year ago, the thing that impressed me most about him was his impact in the run game as well. So he's a dominant force.”In 14 games last time around, Parsons stacked 12.5 sacks. By that point of the season, he had accounted for a third of Green Bay's pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. His 20.7% pressure rate in 2025 was the third best of his career, per NGS.It was his first go-around with the Packers, who acquired the 2021 No. 12 overall pick just 10 days before its season opener. The former Dallas Cowboys standout signed a four-year, $188 million deal with Green Bay, including a reported $136 million of guaranteed money, that made him, at the time, the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.Gannon’s found success with aggressive play-calling. But, soon enough, he should have Parsons at his disposal, affording him more opportunities to use a four-man rush.For now, the Packers are still taking things one day at a time with Parsons.That said, LaFleur clarified Wednesday that edge defender has been “cleared to go full go in regards to what he's doing out there.” On Wednesday, that was individual drills.“Hopefully he'll be ready to go sooner than later,” LaFleur said.