Former standout Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons will miss the first four games of the Green Bay Packers’ 2026 season after being put on the PUP list on Sunday.

Packers DE Micah Parsons (knee) will start the season on Reserve/PUP list, will miss first 4 games of the season. (via @AdamSchefter) pic.twitter.com/jirCTxf6lr

— NFL (@NFL) August 30, 2026

The PUP list allows Parsons to begin practicing in the lead-up to the Packers’ Week 5 matchup against the Chicago Bears. From there, he will have three weeks to continue practicing without counting as a roster spot before he joins the 53-man roster.

Parsons said in June that he likely wouldn’t be active until at least mid-October.

“Through the research and the data, there are no good outcomes with players coming back early from an ACL, especially if you had other things that had to get fixed up,” Parsons told ESPN in June. “It’s just all about completing the rehab to the best of our ability and then seeing where we’re at from there.”

Parsons suffered an ACL tear in the third quarter of the Packers’ Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos a little over eight months ago. The linebacker said the Packers have a strict nine-month rule for ACLs.

“The goal for me is to complete the season, not no relapse, and playoffs and pushing towards a championship,” Parsons said. “The goal isn’t for me to go out there and rehurt myself trying to force myself to get back the first few games. The goal has always been [to be available for the] playoffs, and I think we’re all on the same page.”

The former Dallas Cowboy played for Penn State for two seasons, recording 192 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles in 2018 and 2019.

The Cowboys selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.