Nearly 14 months after the Aug. 28, 2025, trade that sent Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers, the All-Pro edge rusher remains sidelined, having not been cleared to return from last season's season-ending left ACL injury.
Parsons suffered the injury in Week 15 of the 2025 season at the Denver Broncos, a game after which the Packers were 9-3-1 but did not win another game, including an opening-round playoff loss.
Green Bay entered the 2026 season awaiting Parsons' return, which could still be weeks away, and currently holds a 3-2 record through five games.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys' defense has continued to struggle, ranking among the worst in the NFL last season, and Dallas enters Sunday's matchup at Lambeau Field with a 2-3 record.
Jerry Jones, the Cowboys' owner and general manager, envisioned remaking Dallas' defense when he agreed to trade Parsons, but the unit has yet to meet that standard a year later.
Sunday's game between the Packers and Cowboys will not feature Parsons in uniform, as he remains inactive while continuing his recovery from surgery.
The absence of Parsons means the trade's outcome remains unresolved, with neither team having seen the expected on-field impact from the deal.
Both franchises are still building toward championship contention, but the lingering uncertainty around Parsons' availability continues to influence their defensive trajectories.
The Packers believe Parsons could be the key to returning to a Super Bowl, but his absence has persisted beyond the first year post-trade.
Dallas continues to evaluate its defensive personnel and scheme as it attempts to rebuild a unit that failed to produce consistently in 2025.
Until Parsons is medically cleared and returns to game action, the full consequences of the trade for both organizations will remain uncertain.
This article synthesizes reporting from ESPN, Yahoo Sports. Top story: "What Cowboys-Packers' Micah Parsons trade means a year later" (ESPN).