Minnesota Vikings working again Jordan Mason (27) carries the soccer whereas Inexperienced Bay Packers defender Micah Parsons (1) closes in throughout a Nov. 23, 2025, matchup at Lambeau Area in Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers earned a 23-6 victory over the Vikings. Necessary Credit score: Wm. Glasheen-Imagn Pictures.
For the third time in franchise historical past, the Minnesota Vikings will host the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 1, and the best way it’s trending, Micah Parsons will not be prepared for the competition.
Parsons’s harm timeline might go away Inexperienced Bay with out its greatest defensive weapon for the opener.
On December 14th, 2025, Parsons tore his ACL, and primarily based on his present timeline, collaborating in Week 1 may be a stretch.
Inexperienced Bay’s Go Rush Faces an Early Season Query
A Parsons-less Packers squad is an actual chance out of the gate.
Inexperienced Bay Packers defensive finish Micah Parsons walks off the sector with help from medical personnel after struggling an harm throughout the third quarter towards the Denver Broncos on Dec. 14, 2025, at Empower Area at Mile Excessive in Denver, Colorado. Parsons exited following a key defensive sequence as Inexperienced Bay handled one other main harm concern late within the season. Necessary Credit score: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Pictures
The Parsons Replace
Parsons’s standing might be monitored intently this summer time. NBC Sports activities‘ Josh Alper wrote final week, “Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst said earlier this month that the team expects edge rusher Micah Parsons to return early in the 2026 season after recovering from a torn ACL, but did not put any more specific time frame on how much time Parsons could miss.”
“A report on Thursday does a little more on that front. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Parsons is a candidate to open the season on the physically unable to perform list. If that’s the case, Parsons will not be able to play in the first four weeks of the regular season.”
Because the Vikings face the Packers instantly in September, Parsons might not partake.
No Cause for Packers to Push the Envelope
Ever discover how the Vikings usually take their “sweet time” with gamers’ harm recoveries — erring on the aspect of warning? The Packers do this, too.
It’s really a wise apply, and on the subject of Parsons — who may be one of the best defensive participant within the NFL — there’s no motive to hurry him again. Inexperienced Bay proved final yr, fairly vividly, that it couldn’t win a Tremendous Bowl or come wherever near it with out Parsons. Forcing him into the Week 1 lineup “just because” is downright foolish.
And it simply so occurs that Minnesota would be the beneficiary primarily based on the NFL’s luck-of-the-draw schedule-making.
A to Z Sports activities’ Wendell Ferreira on Parsons’s return: “Based on NFL rules, Parsons would be forced to miss at least four games if he starts the season on the PUP list. If the Packers want him back earlier than that, they would have to waste a 53-man roster spot for a few games — which is totally fine, since you can only activate 48 players for each game anyway.”
“Parsons is still relatively early in his recovery process. His injury happened exactly five months ago, and the regular season is still four months away. The Packers tend to be cautious with significant injuries, so it’s not a surprise that they’re expecting a longer recovery time.”
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer stays on the turf after being sacked by Inexperienced Bay Packers defensive finish Micah Parsons throughout the second half on Nov. 23, 2025, at Lambeau Area in Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin. Parsons continued disrupting opposing quarterbacks all through the NFC North matchup with one other impactful defensive play towards Minnesota’s offense. Necessary Credit score: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Pictures
For context, Parsons is already a five-time Professional Bowler.
“Parsons himself has said that he would likely not be ready to play in Week 1, but his initial goal was to get back in September. That doesn’t look like the most realistic scenario at this point, but an early October return is more feasible,” Ferreira concluded.
GB’s EDGEs with out Parsons
Inexperienced Bay actually received’t waltz into the common season unprepared at exterior linebacker. It’s not what that franchise does. Together with Parsons, right here’s the complete OLB group heading into the summer time:
Micah Parsons
Lukas Van Ness
Brenton Cox Jr.
Barryn Sorrell
Dani Dennis-Sutton
Collin Oliver
Arron Mosby
Nyjalik Kelly
Inexperienced Bay Packers defensive finish Micah Parsons embraces Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott after a tie sport on Sep. 28, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The postgame interplay adopted a carefully contested matchup between the longtime NFC rivals, with Parsons persevering with to attract consideration as one of many league’s premier defensive stars. Necessary Credit score: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Pictures
Dennis-Sutton is a rookie, and probably sans Parsons for 4 video games or so in September, Packers followers will hope that he’s extra game-ready than most rookies.
Different Week 1 Storylines
Along with Parsons Watch, Vikings-Packers at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Week 1 could have no scarcity of storylines. They’ll embody:
Kyler Murray vs. Jonathan Gannon: The Arizona Cardinals removed their quarterback and head coach this offseason. Each now work within the NFC North, Murray because the presumptive Vikings QB1 and Gannon because the Packers’ defensive coordinator. Their first order of enterprise exterior the confines of Arizona? Face one another in Minneapolis.
Javon Hargrave “Revenge Game”: The Vikings minimize Hargrave in March, and fewer than per week later, he signed with the Packers and can now begin on Inexperienced Bay’s defensive position. Most athletes like to stay it to their former employer. Hargrave in all probability isn’t an exception.
The matchup would be the Vikings’ first sport with out Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as basic supervisor for the primary time since 2021.
Minnesota may embark on its first common season sport with out Harrison Smith within the roster orbit since 2011.
Vikings-Packers is a pure rivalry.
It’s Week 1 — the return of Vikings soccer.
The common season is 117 days away.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
