Green Bay Packers star edge rusher Micah Parsons, rehabbing from a torn ACL, was placed on the physically unable to perform list earlier this week, which will sideline him for at least the first four weeks of the season. While his absence leaves a significant hole along the Packers’ defensive line, it may also stand in the way of the 27-year-old and history.
Parsons is on the doorstep of accomplishing an NFL first
The three-time first-team All-Pro has posted at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons in the league. With another this year, he’ll become the first player in history to record those sack totals in each of their first six NFL seasons, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
Back in August, Parsons said it was “very realistic” to return by Week 6, but the best-case scenario has him back in the Packers’ lineup in Week 5, at home against the rival Chicago Bears. If that proves to be the case, he’ll have 13 games to record at least 12 sacks. While that’s around a sack-a-game pace, it’s certainly not beyond Parsons’ capabilities.
Before sustaining an ACL tear in a 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos last year, Parsons had already posted 12.5 sacks in only 14 games. Meanwhile, he posted 12.0 sacks over just 13 games during his final season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.
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Parsons could write even more history in the NFL and the Packers’ record books
Last season, Parsons recorded at least 12.5 sacks for the fourth time in five NFL seasons. Should he repeat the feat in 2026, he’ll become only the 12th player to register 12.5 sacks or more in five or more seasons, joining Jack Youngblood (5), Simeon Rice (5), J.J. Watt (5), T.J. Watt (5), Danielle Hunter (5), Deacon Jones (6), Leslie O’Neal (6), Myles Garrett (6), Bruce Smith (7), Kevin Greene (7), and former Packer Reggie White (9), per Stathead.
Meanwhile, with another season of 12.5 sacks or more this year, Parsons would become just the 10th Packer to do so in multiple seasons. Furthermore, he’d join Za’Darius Smith (2019, 2020), Tony Bennett (1991, 1992), and Tim Harris (1988, 1989) as the only Packers to do it in back-to-back seasons.
