One wrinkle in the Micah Parsons and Jerry Jones contract negotiation was Parsons’ non-participation in practice throughout training camp. He was present and participated in a few walkthroughs, but he was always seen in a Dallas Cowboys jersey and on the sidelines.
The reason was consistently cited as a persistent and mysterious back issue. Parsons underwent MRIs that came back clean, but he consistently complained of back problems that prevented him from participating in team workouts.
But Wait, Parsons’s Back is Suddenly in Good Shape!
However, after the Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, everything about him seemed to improve. His 1,000-watt smile returned, and along with his happy demeanor, surely eased along by the four-year, $188 million contract he signed with the Packers, so did his positive body language.
He’s no longer walking around with slumped shoulders or wearing a look that registered as something between a scowl and bored indifference. Now, he’s laughing, interacting with teammates, and jogging with a spring in his step not seen since before Jones began playing games with him in the media.
But the truth is that Parsons was dealing with a legitimate back issue. As reported by Adam Schefter, “Packers LB Micah Parsons has been dealing with an L4/L5 facet joint sprain in his back and he may take an epidural injection prior to Sunday’s game vs. the Lions if needed to help him play, per sources.”
Packers LB Micah Parsons has been dealing with an L4/L5 facet joint sprain in his back and he may take an epidural injection prior to Sunday’s game vs. the Lions if needed to help him play, per sources.
Before trading Parsons last week, the Cowboys prescribed him a five-day plan… pic.twitter.com/8zXkNK45Ip
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2025
In fact, on his first day at practice, Parsons looked like his old self. And his achy back? Let’s just say there were no signs of that problem, though fan reaction behaved as if he somehow magically returned to his old self, as if nothing happened.
Joe Machota posted, “Micah Parsons going through drills for the first time with the Green Bay Packers.”
Micah Parsons going through drills for the first time with the Green Bay Packers https://t.co/sDfvEyhCWL
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 1, 2025
The Internet has … reactions. One poster pointed out the obvious: “That back is healthy now.” Another heralded the effectiveness of a second medical opinion: “Glad he needed a second opinion on that back!? Looks good!”
Glad he needed a second opinion on that back!? Looks good!
— Berfurd🕉Ⓥ🕊️ (@VeganMarine_) September 1, 2025
One fan credited magic for Parsons’ recovery: “Back is magically healed.” Still another echoed the sentiment that Parsons’s “Back issues cleared right up!”
Back is magically healed
— Rick Dixon (@rdixon175) September 1, 2025
Then someone pointed out, “I thought his back was bad!” And another pointed out, “His back looks great!”
His back looks great!
— Pistolerros17 (@jamedina17) September 1, 2025
And finally, it’s clear that Parsons, “Looks like he’s fully recovered from that back issue he had in training camp.”
Looks like he’s fully recovered from that back issue he had in training camp.
— Ron MacDonald (@ronnymac10) September 1, 2025
Regardless, Parsons, now wearing the jersey number one, looks like he’s in good form and ready to wreak havoc on quarterbacks. While the brass in Dallas has moved on in their way, Parsons has clearly rediscovered his fire and looks prepared to go in Week 1.
