GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons called it an overreaction to count the Dallas Cowboys out of the 2026 playoff race on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Edge with Micah Parsons.”
The New York Giants beat Dallas 28-20 in the season opener on Sept. 13 at MetLife Stadium. On the episode, Parsons went through several Week 1 results, including the Packers’ 39-22 loss at the Minnesota Vikings. He is still recovering from a torn ACL.
How little the Cowboys played in the preseason is part of why Parsons is not reading much into one game.
“It’s so much football left,” Parsons said. “New DC, new players. One football [game] can’t put it all together, bro. Especially when you don’t play a lot in preseason.”
“You could see [George Pickens] wasn’t really himself yet,” Parsons continued. “It takes time. I think as the season goes on, I think they all will progress. They have too much talent for them not to progress.”
Dallas hired Christian Parker as defensive coordinator in January to replace Matt Eberflus. Under Eberflus in 2025, the Cowboys allowed 511 points, the most in the NFL, and finished 7-9-1.
Against New York, Parker’s defense allowed 394 total yards and 29 first downs. The Giants converted 9 of 11 third downs.
Micah Parsons Says George Pickens Won’t Have Another Game Like Week 1
Pickens caught 3 passes for 28 yards on 6 targets against the Giants and had 2 drops. Dak Prescott went 22-of-34 passing for 175 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception.
New York held the ball for 36 minutes and 40 seconds. The Giants’ second half stood out to Parsons.
“The Giants are going to be a really good team,” Parsons explained. “From what they showed in the second half, they allowed the Cowboys to touch the football two times. Do you know how impressive that is?”
Dallas scored touchdowns on both of those possessions. Javonte Williams finished the first with a 1-yard run at the end of a 12-play, 75-yard drive. Pickens had an 11-yard catch on that drive.
The box score from the opener is misleading to Parsons because Dallas did not have the ball.
“They didn’t have the ball and GP had two drops that I know he wants back,” Parsons said. “He knows he wants them back. GP won’t have a game like that again. They didn’t have the ball, so that’s another one of those things where stats are kind of — they’ll deceive you.”
Dallas placed the franchise tag on Pickens in February. He later signed the one-year, $27.3 million tender. In 2025, his first season with the Cowboys, Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns. He made his first Pro Bowl.
Micah Parsons Eligible To Return One Week Before Dallas Cowboys Visit Lambeau Field
Parsons has been on the reserve/physically unable to perform list since Aug. 30, which rules him out of Green Bay’s first four games. Week 5 against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Oct. 11 is the first game he is eligible to play.
In August, Parsons said Week 6 against the Cowboys was his most optimistic return date. That game is set for Oct. 18 at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
Parsons tore the ACL in his left knee during a Week 15 loss at the Denver Broncos on Dec. 14. The repair also involved his meniscus, and he had surgery Dec. 29. Under a rule change this season, the Packers can open his practice window as early as Monday, Sept. 21.
Dallas traded Parsons to Green Bay on Aug. 28, 2025, for Kenny Clark and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. In 14 games with the Packers last season, Parsons recorded 12.5 sacks, 41 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles. He was named first-team All-Pro for the third time.
The Cowboys host the Washington Commanders in their home opener Sunday at 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX. The Packers play at the New York Jets at noon CT.
