Green Bay Packers coach hints at Micah Parsons practice return

Hope for Parsons return

Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons might finally return to the practice field next week. This comes more than 10 months after he underwent surgery on his left knee.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur changed his tone on Tuesday when asked the weekly question about the defender. For the last month and a half, LaFleur gave a quick and hard no. This time, he gave a different response.

Medical decision ahead

When asked if Parsons would return to practice next week, LaFleur said that he sure hopes so. The coach acknowledged that his answer was different from previous weeks. He explained that it is ultimately a medical decision, but added that he is itching for it and said there is a chance.

Parsons tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee on Dec. 14 last year and underwent surgery two weeks later. He stays on the physically unable to perform list for now.

Schedule and recovery timeline

The Packers did not open the practice window for Parsons this week. Because they play a Thursday game against the Panthers, the team does not hold regular practices this week.

Once a player on the PUP list returns to practice, the team gets three weeks to either add him to the active roster or place him on injured reserve. Even if Parsons gets back to practice next week, it remains highly unlikely that he plays in Week 9 against the Patriots.

The Packers host the Vikings in Week 10 before their bye in Week 11. Because of that schedule, the team might hold Parsons out of game action until Nov. 25, when they visit the Rams.