GREEN BAY – Five months down, four to go.
That’s the gist of the Micah Parsons rehab update, as the Packers’ star edge rusher last week passed the five-month mark from his knee surgery date of Dec. 29.
He said Wednesday he’s “extremely happy” with how the process is going, as tough as it’s been at times. He’s also adhering to the medical staff’s nine-month rule of no football following a reconstructive ACL surgery that in his case also included a meniscus cleanup.
That timeline would have him, potentially, returning to the practice field in late September and game action shortly thereafter. So the expectation remains he’ll miss a handful of games – if he starts the season on the physically unable to perform list (PUP), the minimum is four – which is what he said back in January when he last spoke with the media.
“The goal has always just been not right now but longevity with my career here, and I think they want that approach,” he said.
“The goal for me is to complete the season – not no relapse – and playoffs and pushing towards a championship. The goal isn’t for me to go out there and re-hurt myself trying to force myself to get back the first few games. The goal has always been playoffs, and I think we’re all on the same page.”
Parsons earned his fourth career All-Pro selection last year, and led the Packers with 12½ sacks, despite missing the last three-plus games of the regular season following his injury.
Green Bay didn’t win a game without him and bowed out in the opening round of the playoffs, which admittedly weighed on him with the team 9-3-1 when he hurt his knee in the second half at Denver in Week 15.
He’s never dealt with an injury of this magnitude and while he’s trying to convince himself to enjoy “rebuilding” himself, there have been plenty of difficult days he’s had to push through knowing how much work still lies ahead.
“I would definitely say it is hard for me to accept,” he said. “Not only is it hard to accept that I’mma miss more time than what I want, but obviously hard to accept the injury. It constantly replays in my brain.
“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.”
