Packers defensive end Micah Parsons took a big step back toward the lineup on Wednesday when he participated in practice for the first time since tearing his ACL last December.
Parsons was limited to individual work on his first day back and head coach Matt LaFleur said that the team will take it “one day at a time” as Parsons ramps back up. LaFleur added that he hopes Parsons is ready for game action sooner rather than later and reports have indicated that the team’s Week 12 Thanksgiving Eve game against the Rams is the target, but Parsons isn’t looking at a specific date at this point.
“I won’t say too much because even if I did play, I don’t want them to game plan for it,” Parsons said in a post-practice media session. “I just want it to be a surprise. I just want it to be a fulfilling moment for myself, the staff — just to enjoy that day and not put too much pressure on that day. My family even been asking me, ‘You going to play? Should we buy flights to come out there?’” . . . It is what it is. You can buy your flight and cancel last minute, that’s up to you, but I’m not going to pinpoint a day to disappoint anyone or get people expectations that I can’t meet.’ I gotta stack 20 days and hopefully on that 21st day I feel incredible.”
Parsons said he’s looking forward to upping his practice participation next week and that he understands that he needs to “get into more of a football shape” because his conditioning is not where he needs it to be. That should improve over the next couple of weeks and that should put Parsons in a good spot for the Rams game if everything continues to play out the right way.