According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Parsons is contending with an L4/L5 facet joint sprain—a painful injury that can severely limit mobility and explosiveness, especially for a player whose game is built on power and agility. The Packers are weighing whether an epidural injection will be enough to get their $188 million pass rusher on the field come Sunday, but as of now, his status is officially questionable. One source close to the team confided that it remains “uncertain” whether Parsons will suit up for the opener.
The saga began brewing in Dallas, where Parsons’ back issue was initially dismissed by some as a negotiation ploy during his contract standoff. Yet, the truth has proven far more dramatic. After passing his physical with Green Bay and practicing in a limited capacity, Parsons is pushing himself through rigorous physical therapy, desperate to debut for his new team against a division rival. The stakes couldn’t be higher: not only does this game set the tone for the Packers’ season, but it’s also a chance for Parsons to silence doubters and prove his worth after the blockbuster trade that sent Kenny Clark and two first-round picks to Dallas.
Facet joints, as described by the Mayo Clinic, are critical for spinal stability and flexibility—making Parsons’ injury a concern not just for this week, but potentially for his future with the Packers. Yet the organization’s medical staff, known for their caution, cleared the deal, suggesting optimism about his long-term prognosis. Still, if Parsons’ back woes persist, this trade could be second-guessed for years to come.
While Cowboys fans mourn the loss of their defensive talisman, Packers Nation is on edge, hoping that an epidural and Parsons’ trademark grit will be enough to unleash him against Detroit. The NFL universe waits—will the newest Green Bay hero take the field and shift the balance of power in the NFC North, or will his lingering injury cast a shadow over one of the most dramatic trades in recent memory?