The Chicago Bears have to defend their NFC North crown, and keeping Caleb Williams out of harm's way will be paramount to that. And with Ozzy Trapilo's injury and the uncertainty at left tackle, avoiding premier pass rushers should count as a win.
That's why knowing that Micah Parsons might not suit up for their Week 5 divisional showdown with the Green Bay Packers is a huge sign of relief. He was already a long shot to play, but there was still hope that he could be activated at some point.
Now, speaking to NFL Network's Stacey Dales and Brian Baldinger, the former Dallas Cowboys star admitted that a return in mid-October is probably the most optimistic outlook, assuming there are no setbacks.
The Bears may not have to deal with Micah Parsons early on in the season
"That's the most optimistic (return date) that I can be back," Parsons acknowledged. "Of course, I could be later, there could be setbacks... We gotta get to the point where I'm feeling great and we say Micah, you'll be in a really great phase."
Bears and Packers will meet on October 11, so technically, there's still a chance that he can suit up for that game. That said, the Packers will most likely err on the side of caution with their franchise player, and even if he does suit up, he'll definitely be on a strict pitch count.
The Bears will have to deal with Matt LaFleur's team again on Christmas in Week 16, and Parsons should be all ramped up by then. But even still, he might still not be the same game-wrecker pass rusher he was before the injury.
Most players need more than a full season to return to their usual level. Parsons is young and extremely athletic and explosive, but he's also been overly cautious with his recovery, so he may not be all the way there this season.
Parsons tore his ACL in Week 15, so he was always a long shot to be ready for the start of the season. The game is always better when the best guys are on the field, but you never want to see Micah Parsons come off the edge when your quarterback is on the other side of the play.
Ben Johnson's team still needs to figure out the best course of action at left tackle, and they're also dealing with some concerning injuries of their own. Even still, they should like their chances against a Parsons-less Packers team they already beat in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, especially now that defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is also gone.
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