What Cowboys-Packers' Micah Parsons trade means a year later - ESPN

If Sunday's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field were a made-for-TV movie, it would open like this: The home team's starters would be introduced, and Micah Parsons would run out last to a raucous ovation while his former team stood and watched.

Instead, Parsons will be without a uniform, will come out unannounced and his play will have zero impact on who wins the game. Nearly 14 months after Parsons was traded from the Cowboys to the Packers, and a little more than nine months removed from left ACL surgery, the All-Pro edge rusher has yet to be cleared to return from last year's season-ending injury.

Given everything that has happened for the two teams since that Aug. 28, 2025, blockbuster deal, Parsons' presence still looms large over both franchises as they try to build championship contenders. Both teams are off to bumpy starts this season as Green Bay awaits Parsons' return to action and Dallas' defense continues to struggle.

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Parsons might still be the one player the Packers need to get back to a Super Bowl, but it didn't happen in Year 1. The Packers were 9-3-1 when Parsons blew out his knee at the Denver Broncos in Week 15, and they didn't win another game — including an opening-round playoff loss. They're off to a 3-2 start this year while they wait for Parsons' return, which could still be weeks away.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys had arguably the worst defense in the NFL last season, and at 2-3 this season, they're still trying to remake their defense into what owner and general manager Jerry Jones envisioned when he shipped Parsons to the