After a surprising trade right before the start of the season, Micah Parsons enjoyed an excellent season for the Green Bay Packers, netting 12.5 sacks in 14 games. However, as the Green Bay Packers start their playoff campaign against the Chicago Bears, he won’t be able to contribute on the field.
Why Is Micah Parsons Not Playing Against the Chicago Bears?
A fantastic season for Parsons ended abruptly after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing against the Denver Broncos in Week 15. He tried to chase Broncos quarterback Bo Nix during a play, but his knee bent awkwardly, and he was unable to put any pressure on his leg.
The injury happened at the worst possible time. The Packers were fighting for the NFC North crown with the Chicago Bears at the time. Since he suffered his knee injury, Green Bay has not won a single game. They closed the regular season with four straight losses; it’s worth noting that starters were rested in Week 18.
There’s no doubt about his impact when he’s on the field. Green Bay grasped the chance of adding Parsons to the roster as soon as it became clear he was available for a trade. The Packers sent two first-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys, plus three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, for the defender.
As soon as he became a member of the Packers, Parsons ended his contract dispute by signing a four-year, $188 million contract that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, with an average annual salary of $47 million.
He finished his first season with the Packers with 14 games, 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 26 quarterback hits. Despite a strong year, he was widely considered the No. 2 EDGE in the league during the 2025 season, with an outstanding year by Myles Garrett, who ended with the Cleveland Browns defender breaking the record for most sacks in a season (23).
Parsons was on the field in Week 14, when the Green Bay Packers won 28-21 against the Chicago Bears; two weeks later, during the rematch, he was absent due to his knee injury. He ended the first game with two hits on quarterback Caleb Williams, who has been playing well since the start of the season.
Parsons, ranked No. 4 in our PFSN EDGE Impact Metric, is not the only absence for the Packers against the Chicago Bears. Tight end Tucker Kraft is also out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Luckily, Zach Tom is set to return following a four-game absence.
