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01/12 15:06 CST Packers' Micah Parsons says he can recover from torn ACL in
time to play early next season
Packers' Micah Parsons says he can recover from torn ACL in time to play early
next season
By STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) --- Green Bay's Micah Parsons calls his torn anterior
cruciate ligament "the most challenging thing that I think I've ever faced as a
human."
But the All-Pro defensive end believes he can recover in time to play early
next season.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since his Dec. 14 injury, Parsons said
Monday that he hopes to be back for the start of the season, but added that a
more realistic goal is "probably like Week 3, Week 4."
"I wouldn't wish this on anyone," Parsons said. "I don't think people realize
how much the knee is. It's the most challenging thing that I think I've ever
faced as a human. When you talk about pain, can't sleep, can't move around. ...
I can't remember the last time I slept through the night. My body's tired. My
mind's tired. I'm exhausted, man. But it's going to be worth it once I'm going
to be able to move and play again."
Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft both discussed their recoveries from torn
ACLs as the Packers packed up their lockers two days after blowing a 15-point,
fourth-quarter lead in a 31-27 wild-card playoff loss at Chicago.
Kraft, who tore his right ACL on Nov. 2, compared this injury to the torn
pectoral muscle that caused him to spend part of the 2024 preseason on the
physically unable to perform list. Kraft returned in time to play all 17 games
that season.
"By the time Week 1 rolls around, I'll be 10 months post-surgery and hopefully
bulletproof by then," Kraft said.
The Packers were leading the Denver Broncos in the second half when Parsons
hurt his left knee, knocking him out for the rest of this season. They didn't
win again, losing their last five games.
It's the first major injury of Parsons' career. It ended his first season in
Green Bay prematurely after the Packers acquired him in an August trade with
the Dallas Cowboys.
"I'm not a very vulnerable person and during this period I've probably been the
most vulnerable I've been in the last like, probably my whole life, Parsons
said. "I'm telling people how much I need them and appreciate them being there
for me.
"Because to be honest, man, you can't go through this injury by yourself. ...
Like I can't shower by myself. I can't even get off the bed myself. So I
couldn't imagine being alone. So I'm so appreciative of my family being there
for me."
The injuries to Parsons and Kraft left the Packers without two of their best
players.
Parsons had 12 sacks this season to earn All-Pro honors despite missing the
Packers' final four games. Kraft had 32 catches for 489 yards and six
touchdowns despite playing only eight games.
"I was on the cusp of putting together one of the greatest seasons by a Packer
tight end, and that was something I was looking forward to, just leaving my
legacy on this game and playing as hard as I could every snap for the for this
team, because the end of the day, the guys in this room, they mean so much to
me," Kraft said.
Although the Packers were winless after his injury, Parsons said "there was no
point in the season where I felt like we weren't a championship-caliber team."
The Packers led by at least nine points after halftime in three of their five
losses to end the season. Another loss came when the Packers rested their
starters in the regular-season finale at Minnesota.
Parsons and Kraft both expressed support for Matt LaFleur as speculation
swirled about their coach's future.
"I think Matt's an outstanding head coach," Kraft said. "There's no doubt in my
mind that he'll remain here as a Packer. I think a lot of that talk is pretty
silly."
Parsons said LaFleur's presence was part of the reason he wanted to come to
Green Bay. Parsons said he mentioned that to LaFleur after seeing questions
about the coach's job status.
"You can get spoiled with good coach and good people, and you don't realize
until they're gone," Parsons said. "I don't want to be at that point where we
realize like, ?Damn, we let such a great coach go.' "
Parsons said players must take accountability regarding the way the season
ended.
"There's a lot of reality checks that us as players need," Parsons said. "Yeah,
I think as fans and people I see the same things you see. People want to look
at the play-calling and people want to look that, but I'm looking at the effort
of the guys. I look at the how guys are playing. Are we blocking? Are we
getting blocks? Are we attacking? Those are the things us players we can
control. And I think more people need to realize that."
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
