Parsons provided an update on his rehabilitation process, making it clear that the Packers are taking a cautious approach with his recovery timeline. According to Rob Demovsky, the player explained that the injury involved more than just an ACL tear, which has extended the expected return date.

“Five months into his ACL rehab, Micah Parsons said he has four more months to go, saying that they have a strict nine-month rule especially for players who had more than just the ACL tear, revealing that he also had a meniscus procedure.”

How long is Micah Parsons out with Packers?

Micah Parsons will be out at least four games of the 2026 season. His comments became even more significant after NFL insider Ian Rapoport shared additional details regarding the Packers’ plans.

“Packers star Micah Parsons makes clear that he’ll begin the 2026 season on the PUP list, offering a target of mid-October until he’s on the field. With a long career ahead, no shortcuts.”

What happens to a player on the PUP list?

The Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list carries major implications. By opening the season on the reserve PUP list, Parsons will be required to miss at least the first four games of the regular season. That means Green Bay will have to navigate the opening month without one of the NFL’s premier defensive playmakers.

When will Micah Parsons come back?

Micah Parsons also emphasized the team’s strict nine-month recovery rule following his ACL injury. Given that timeline, a return around mid-October now appears to be the most realistic target, assuming there are no setbacks during the final stages of rehab.

Parsons is one of the NFL’s biggest stars after an impressive start to his career with the Dallas Cowboys and now with the Green Bay Packers following one of the most surprising trades in league history.

For his part, Tomlin decided to end his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 seasons and a Super Bowl title with the historic franchise. Now, the veteran head coach is ready for a new chapter in his career.

Micah Parsons makes interesting ‘offer’ to Mike Tomlin

Micah Parsons and Mike Tomlin shared a warm exchange, with the veteran coach telling the star pass rusher, “Man, you just made my night.” Then, in a moment that caught everyone by surprise, Parsons invited Tomlin to join the Packers. “We got a spot for you. Just keep coming North.”

Mike Tomlin’s new job

Mike Tomlin is unlikely to accept Micah Parsons’ offer to join the Packers as an assistant coach or consultant, especially after signing a contract to become an NBC analyst beginning with the 2026 season.

However, in a particularly interesting moment, Parsons appeared to be completely serious about recruiting Tomlin, even though Matt LaFleur is currently the team’s head coach.

Josh Jacobs remains one of the premier running backs in the league. However, he is currently facing a serious off-the-field situation after being arrested on Tuesday and booked into the Brown County Jail on five charges—including domestic abuse and strangulation—according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Due to these sudden legal troubles, fans are understandably wondering who will step up in the Packers’ backfield if Jacobs is forced to miss time during the 2026 campaign. As of today, Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd, and Pierre Strong Jr. are the primary options ready to shoulder the load.

The battle for the RB2 position

The biggest schematic shift in the running back room follows the departure of Emanuel Wilson, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. Wilson handled a combined 254 touches over the last two seasons, leaving a massive vacancy in the offense. The battle to replace that production—and potentially fill in as the starter—comes down to two contrasting styles.

Brooks has generated substantial momentum throughout early offseason workouts and currently projects as a steady contributor. His reliability in pass protection and disciplined, physical running style make him a trusted option for the coaching staff.

As for Lloyd, he is entering his third season in Green Bay and possesses the highest explosive ceiling among the backup options. Widely regarded as a dynamic big-play threat, his elite high-end speed makes him the perfect change-of-pace weapon.

Green Bay offseason schedule details

The Packers officially kicked off their Organized Team Activities (OTAs) today, May 26, though the breaking news surrounding Jacobs has naturally cast a shadow over the start of workouts. Following the conclusion of OTAs, the team’s mandatory minicamp is scheduled to take place starting June 9.

Regarding Jacobs’ ongoing legal situation, his legal team released a statement confirming they are in communication with the organization, noting that the star running back vehemently denies all allegations as the investigation unfolds.

Journalist Gery Woelfel reported on X that sources close to the Cardinals rave about Gannon’s ability to lead, even during challenging seasons filled with roster turnover. The source stated: “The players here loved him. They (the Cardinals) had a lot of injuries and lost a lot close games. But he (Gannon) kept that locker room together.”

Continuing the praise, the report emphasized that the team “bought into what he was coaching and believed in him,” suggesting a strong culture shift is coming to Wisconsin. Woelfel’s source concluded with a confident prediction for the current roster, noting that “Those players up there (in Green Bay) are going to love playing for him.”

How Gannon can evolve the Packers’ defensive unit

Gannon is focused on creating a bespoke scheme for the 2026 season, telling players the system will be a mix of his successful stints in Philadelphia, Arizona, and even college concepts. “I don’t really get caught up in ‘This is my playbook,'” Gannon explained, promising a fresh start that isn’t tied to rigid, outdated coaching philosophies.

His defensive knowledge is extensive, having served as the defensive backs coach for the Colts and the defensive coordinator for a dominant Eagles unit that reached the Super Bowl. While his record as a head coach faced hurdles, his history of developing secondary talent suggests the Packers’ defensive backfield will see immediate technical improvements.

The opportunity to work alongside Matt LaFleur and a top-tier quarterback like Jordan Love were primary factors that drew Gannon to this “iconic franchise.” By combining his experience with the stability of the Packers’ organization, Gannon aims to build a defense that is as resilient and respected as the team’s historic reputation.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the move, though the contractual details haven’t been revealed yet. What is definitely true is that Taylor is coming into a QB2 capacity after being a starter in the second half of the season on the Jets.

With Taylor behind starting QB Jordan Love, the Packers released Desmond Ridder in a corresponding move. This means Kyle McCord and Kyron Drones close the depth chart. Taylor should definitely be above Ridder in the quality department.

Is Tyrod Taylor a good replacement for Malik Willis?

Malik Willis was so good as Jordan Love’s backup that he earned a starting quarterback contract with the Miami Dolphins. Is Tyrod Taylor a good fit then? Taylor has started 62 games, so he is much more experienced than Willis in that department.

However, Taylor turns 37 before the season begins, and while somewhat mobile, Willis is much more explosive with his feet. He is a reliable backup to Jordan Love, but the playbook should be less physically-demanding with him than it was with Willis.

The Packers know they need a good backup

Some teams kind of disregard the QB2 matter, but the Packers know they can’t do that with Jordan Love. He’s missed time the last two seasons, and given that they are a playoff team, they can’t afford to throw away games if Love is not fit.

Hence, with Willis out, the Packers now needed to ensure they had a solid backup in place. Tyrod Taylor is that. He is a reliable veteran capable of winning a couple of games if needed. The Packers were clever to sign him.

Claypool was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and he impressed early on in his career. However, his attitude was an issue and he also had some injury concerns. It ended up costing him his spot on the team.

After that, he had ill-fated stints at the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reported that Claypool is in fact, attending the Packers mini-camp.

Why has Claypool not played in more than two years?

Claypool went from a very productive weapon (he racked up 1,600+ yards in his first two seasons combined) to a practice squad guy. However, it was not only that his level dipped. Injuries also played a huge role in his absence.

More specifically, it’s been a toe injury the one that hasn’t allowed him to flourish. A receiver runs a lot, and also changes directions and jumps. It’s one of the most demanding positions in football, at least physically. Hence, not being able to do any of that at a high level due to a toe injury will logically hamper Claypool’s career.

Claypool might not be the answer to a WR1, but can be useful

Claypool is clearly not equipped to be any team’s WR1, at least for now. However, he is 27 years old and he can be a great deep threat with huge contested catch abilities if used right. This could help the Packers, as it would allow them to use Christian Watson in even more roles and formations.

The Packers are one of six teams that don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They opted to trade that pick last year in a deal with the Cowboys that landed Micah Parsons with the Cheeseheads.

That pick turned out to be pick number 20 in this year’s first round. It’s safe to say the Packers must feel relatively good, given that Parsons is one of the few truly elite players in the NFL, which is worth way more than a 20th pick. That’s said despite the fact that Parsons tore his ACL last season.

Parsons’ return date with the Packers

Micah Parsons tore his ACL on December 14th, 2025. While it’s not been confirmed when he will return, the hopeful think he could be back for Week 1. However, the more realistic target is for Parsons to return in Week 3 or Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season.

Parsons was wrecking havoc before falling down to the injury. In 2025, Parsons had 12.5 sacks, 41 combined tackles, and 27 QB hits in 14 games. Despite the injury, he ended up third in Defensive Player of the Year votes.

What will the Cowboys do with the 20th pick?

It’s just the fourth time in history that the Cowboys have two or more top 20 picks in the NFL Draft. The Cowboys first had that privilege in 1975, then 1991, and more recently in 2005. They used five of those picks in defensive players, and traded another one for more draft capital. These are the teams that have multiple first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

While it’s pretty likely that their first pick will be used on defense, the 20th pick might be too. However, there’s also the possibility of taking an offensive tackle, or picking the best player available. That will depend on how the draft develops.

However, it’s the first round the one that matters the most. All top-tier talent is usually gone after the first 32 picks. This year, though, there are six teams that have no first-round picks. Each time will have different picks but the same time to select in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, and Cincinnati Bengals have no first round picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Conversely, this means there are teams with multiple first-round picks.

Why do these teams have no first-round picks?

The Jaguars traded their 2026 first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns in a 2025 draft deal to move up to pick Travis Hunter. The Falcons traded their pick to the Los Angeles Rams as part of a package for a 2025 first-round used in OLB James Pearce Jr.

The Packers traded away their pick as a part of the Micah Parsons deal. The Colts traded their first-rounder to acquire Sauce Gardner. As for the Broncos, their first pick was traded to the Dolphins for WR Jaylen Waddle. Lastly, the Bengals traded their 10th overall pick to the Giants to acquire Dexter Lawrence.

Can these teams still have something to say?

Not having picks doesn’t mean that these six teams won’t play a part. It’s been heavily rumored that the 2026 NFL Draft will feature plenty of trades. Hence, don’t discard any of these teams jumping in and being a part of draft day if they see the opportunity to enhance their roster.

In the 2025 season, many saw the Packers as top contenders. However, they failed to win the NFC North title and exited the playoffs after a tough Wild Card round loss to the Bears.

“Some of our young guys, I’m interested to see with our new coaching staff how they adapt to what we’re going to ask them to do,” GM Brian Gutekunst said, via the team’s website. “But we do need to add some numbers there.”

When is the Packers’ first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

While the Packers are reportedly interested in projected second-round pick Ted Hurst (WR, Georgia State), they may be forced to move up if they want to select a top-tier prospect, as they currently do not have a first-round pick.

The Packers first appear on the board at No. 52 overall, which is not the ideal position to draft an elite prospect. Consequently, there are rumors that they may look to reclaim a first-round pick by trading away a veteran player.

The best cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft according to scouts is Mansoor Delane (LSU). However, he is projected as a top-15 pick, which would currently leave the Packers out of the race for the standout defender.

“Source: Georgia State WR Ted Hurst is visiting the Giants, Packers and Chiefs this week,” the insider Jordan Schultz revealed on X. “The 6-4, 206-pound Hurst – who recently visited the Falcons, Saints, Dolphins, Colts and Vikings – clocked a 4.42 40 with an impressive 11-2 broad jump. He is a likely 2nd-round pick.”

Hurst has shown the necessary traits to make the leap to the NFL as a high draft pick. Will he be running routes alongside Jaxson Dart or Patrick Mahomes, or will it ultimately be Jordan Love who targets him through the air?

Hurst’s standout 2025 in College Football

During his senior season in 2025, Ted Hurst established himself as a premier vertical threat for Georgia State, earning First-team All-Sun Belt honors. He led the Panthers with 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 14.1 yards per catch.

Standing at 6’4″, Hurst finished the year ranked 12th nationally in total receiving yards, a performance that has recently solidified his status as a rising prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Where does Hurst fit best?

Among the three teams meeting with him this week, the Kansas City Chiefs might represent the most intriguing fit for Ted Hurst. While the Packers value his 9.90 RAS and the Giants desperately need his 6’4″ frame for their rebuilding offense, Hurst’s 4.42 speed and vertical tracking make him a lethal weapon for Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs have traditionally favored smaller, shifty receivers, but adding Hurst’s would provide a much-needed physical presence in the red zone. If he lands in Kansas City, his ability to stretch the field could turn him into the ultimate deep-threat complement to their existing speedsters.

The early draft picks of these teams

Wicks was a useful guy, hence why the Eagles traded for him amid all the AJ Brown saga. Still, the Packers saw no issues in letting him go. They also lost Romeo Doubs this offseason, so it’s quite a shakeup in the WR room.

Christian Watson is set to be the WR1 of the team. Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden come as the next alternatives. The Packers also have Will Sheppard, Savion Williams, Skyy Moore, Bo Melton, Isaiah Neyor, and Jakobie Keeney-James on the roster.

The Packers must pray Christian Watson stays healthy

The talk around the Packers’ wideouts is that they are always filled with B+ players, not playmakers. The one that could go to that tier is Christian Watson. However, he is consistently injured. Hence, if Watson is healthy, they have a gamechanger, but having him available has been an issue.

Many pressure is also on Matthew Golden too. Golden was a first round pick, so the expectations for him is quite big. He must deliver and take a step forward on this offense if the Packers want a top-tier offense in the NFL.

A healthy Packers offense is a problem

If Watson is healthy, and Golden takes a leap, the Packers should be a big-time offense. Jordan Love is an above average quarterback, and Josh Jacobs is a top-tier running back in the NFL. All this lined up with the playcalling of head coach Matt LaFleur.