Gamers from the Minnesota Vikings and Inexperienced Bay Packers line up on the line of scrimmage throughout fourth-quarter motion at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. On Dec. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the longtime NFC North rivals battled deep into the sport as playoff positioning and divisional pleasure remained on the road late within the common season. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos
For less than the third time in 66 years, the Minnesota Vikings will play the Inexperienced Bay Packers to begin the season. Through the showdown, otherworldly linebacker Micah Parsons is not going to partake.
Inexperienced Bay will take Parson’s ACL restoration slowly, and he’s already been dominated out for the month of September.
A Packers Drawback Arrives on the Good Time for Minnesota
Inexperienced Bay Packers move rusher Micah Parsons loosens up earlier than taking the sector at Empower Subject at Mile Excessive. Throughout warm-ups on Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver, Colorado, Parsons ready for a matchup with the Broncos whereas persevering with to function the centerpiece of Inexperienced Bay’s defensive entrance and one of many NFL’s premier defenders. Obligatory Credit score: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Photos
No Parsons Week 1
You may scratch Parsons off your bingo board for Week 1.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky wrote Wednesday, “Micah Parsons’ initial hope that he could return within the first month of the season was never realistic, and the Green Bay Packers’ star edge rusher has come to terms with that. Parsons said Wednesday that he’s just past the five-month mark from his ACL surgery, which he revealed also included a procedure on his meniscus, and that he won’t be cleared to be back on the football field — even for practice — until the nine-month mark.”
“That would put his earliest possible return to practice in late September, and the Packers likely would not allow him to play in a game until after several weeks of practice. Parsons is likely to open the season on the physically unable to perform list, which means he would automatically miss at least four games.”
Barryn Sorrell or Brenton Cox Jr. will presumably begin in Parsons’s place.
A Sport-Altering Element. Actually.
The Vikings are identified for his or her cautious method to damage recoveries, prioritizing long-term well being. Inexperienced Bay operates equally, which is related given Parsons’s standing.
Parsons, arguably the perfect defensive participant in soccer, is not going to be rushed into the Week 1 lineup just because the calendar dictates it. Final season, the Packers clearly noticed their Tremendous Bowl aspirations diminish with out him. Risking a long-term setback in September can be a grave error.
The conservative method might instantly profit Minnesota as a result of NFL’s random scheduling. Given Parsons is already a five-time Professional Bowler, Inexperienced Bay’s persistence is fully logical. The Packers is not going to be unprepared at exterior linebacker to begin the season. The group sometimes has a sturdy backup plan, and its summer season roster just isn’t missing expertise.
The complete exterior linebacker room, together with Parsons, is as follows:
Micah Parsons
Lukas Van Ness
Brenton Cox Jr.
Barryn Sorrell
Dani Dennis-Sutton
Collin Oliver
Arron Mosby
Nyjalik Kelly
Dennis-Sutton is a rookie. If Parsons misses roughly 4 video games in September, Packers followers will want Dennis-Sutton to be extra ready to play than a median first-year move rusher.
One can’t keep away from the very fact, although, that Parsons is, by far, the Packers’ defensive MVP and greatest participant on the group general. Minnesota, dealing with a Parsons-less Packers squad, is a wholly completely different beast.
Vikings Harm Watch
Minnesota’s summer season damage watch isn’t fairly as huge as Inexperienced Bay’s, however it’s noteworthy nonetheless.
Inexperienced Bay Packers defensive finish Micah Parsons and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott share a second following a hard-fought contest at AT&T Stadium. On Sept. 28, 2025, in Arlington, Texas, the previous teammates embraced after the sport, highlighting the mutual respect solid throughout their years collectively in Dallas. Obligatory Credit score: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Photos
All eyes are on left sort out Christian Darrisaw, who tore his ACL in October 2024 however didn’t encounter a seamless restoration thereafter. The Vikings even shut down Darrisaw final December, giving him extra time to heal and be prepared for 2026, which is three months away in regular-season converse. Fortunately, Darrisaw participated in organized group actions final week and seemed nice.
Then there’s one of many latest members of the roster. Minnesota drafted defensive sort out Caleb Banks from Florida in April, and the one knock on him is 2 foot accidents for the reason that summer season of 2025. Banks’s draft inventory fell from Spherical 1 to Spherical 2 as a result of he broke his foot on the NFL Mix in February, however that didn’t deter the Vikings from deciding on him with the 18th general decide. The Vikings teaching workers has since claimed that Banks shall be prepared from coaching camp in late July.
It’s Darrisaw and Banks Look ahead to accidents this summer season.
All Eyes on Tucker Kraft, Josh Jacobs, and Zach Tom
Parsons isn’t the one star who Packers followers should monitor. Tight finish Tucker Kraft is working his manner again from a torn ACL in November. He could or is probably not prepared for Week 1. Josh Jacobs is accused of home violence crimes, and that storyline will dominate the Packers’ summer season. Deal with Zach Tom additionally injured his knee final 12 months, although Inexperienced Bay’s teaching workers is optimistic about his return sooner quite than later.
Inexperienced Bay Packers tight finish Tucker Kraft heads towards the locker room after a street matchup in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys. Following the sport on Sept. 28, 2025, in Arlington, Texas, Kraft exited the sector at AT&T Stadium after contributing to a different chapter in Inexperienced Bay’s ongoing NFC marketing campaign. Obligatory Credit score: Jerome Miron-Imagn Photos
There’s a world the place the Vikings face the Packers with out Parsons, Kraft, and Jacobs, imagine it or not.
From a June standpoint, Inexperienced Bay is an early 1.5-point favourite to defeat Minnesota at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Week 1 — even with Parsons dominated out.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
