Micah Parsons is working toward getting back to full health after tearing his ACL against the Denver Broncos in Week 15 last season. The Packers are hoping he will return as soon as possible after recording 41 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in just 14 games last season.
However, the five-time Pro Bowler will not be ready to open up the year. When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Parsons revealed he will begin the season on the PUP list, making a mid-October return possible, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
That means for the first month of the season, the Packers will rely on their other pass rushers. That includes players such as Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox Jr. and Dani Dennis-Sutton.
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However, Parsons has faith in his teammates stepping up while he recovers from injury. In fact, he also told reporters that if Van Ness can stay healthy in 2026, he will become one of the Packers' most popular players.
"Luke is someone people sleep on the most, and I don't know why," he said, in a video posted by The Athletic's Matt Schneidman. "I think by the end of the season, if Luke stays healthy, he'll probably be the [fan] favorite. That's how much confidence I have in him."
Van Ness hasn't lived up to expectations since being selected with the No. 13 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Over the past three seasons, he has recorded just 84 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits and 34 pressures.
Last season was especially difficult for the former Iowa Hawkeye. Van Ness played in just nine games last season and made two starts because of a lingering foot injury. His lack of production and limited time on the field have been points of criticism early in his career.
However, with Parsons sidelined to begin the year, the spotlight will be on Van Ness to step up and put together a breakout season his star teammate believes is possible.
