Green Bay Packers fans may have to wait a little longer to see star edge rusher Micah Parsons back on the field. According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, Parsons is a candidate to start the 2026 season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he continues recovering from a torn ACL.

Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst had previously stated earlier this month that the team expects Parsons to return early in the season, though he stopped short of providing a specific timeline. This latest development adds more clarity—and perhaps some concern—to the situation.

If Parsons does begin the season on the PUP list, he would be ineligible to play in the first four weeks of the regular season. However, there is a silver lining: he would still be allowed to practice during that window. This is crucial because staying on the PUP list into the regular season would mean Parsons missed all of training camp, making a smooth transition back to game action even more challenging.

For now, the Packers and their fans will have to play the waiting game. A clearer picture of Parsons' availability should emerge well before Week 1, and the team will also get a better sense of which opponents they'll face without their defensive star when the NFL schedule is released Thursday night. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, getting Parsons back healthy and on time could be the difference between a strong start and a slow one.