Micah Parsons sat out all of 2025 training camp with the Dallas Cowboys with a reported back injury, something the Green Bay Packers said they were aware of when they traded for him last week. While many believed Parsons was using the back injury to gain leverage for a new contract, reports out of Green Bay revealed that Parsons was indeed suffering from a “L4/L5 facet joint sprain,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The injury is reportedly significant enough that it could limit his availability and potentially keep him from playing in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions.

Schefter would go on to report that the Cowboys had Parsons on an anti-inflammatory treatment plan and were prescribing him medication to improve tightness in his back. A variation of this plan is expected to continue in Green Bay.

“Physically, I’m great,” Parsons said at his introductory press conference in Green Bay. “I think I can contribute a lot. I’m going to team up with the doctors in creating a plan. We already talked about how we can ramp things up and get me into a flow where they feel comfortable and I feel comfortable. But my plan is to be here. They didn’t give up what they gave up for me to sit on the sidelines and make this big of a risk and change for me to do that, so I’m going to give them my all.”

“If Parsons is indeed a full participant on Wednesday, Thursday or even Friday, that’s a telling sign he’ll play in the season opener on Sunday,” Schneidman wrote. “Maybe he won’t have a typical workload after not practicing all camp and nursing a back injury, but it would be a surprise if Parsons doesn’t suit up at all.”

ESPN and NFL Network would both report that Parsons may even consider receiving an injection (an epidural, per Ian Rapoport) ahead of the game against the Lions in order to help him get on the field.

As for the Lions, coach Dan Campbell said the team is preparing as if they expect him to play on Sunday.

“Certainly, we’ll have our eyes on that. We know what kind of player he is; he’s a really good player. But, we’ll have a plan,” Campbell said on Monday.