A new formula is reshaping the Packers’ defense, but the mission remains unchanged—and the results are impossible to ignore.QQ
Green Bay must find ways to overcome Micah Parsons’ absence
GREEN BAY – A Packers team with championship aspirations for the 2025 season even before the arrival of Micah Parsons must now press on without one of the NFL’s top defensive stars.
Green Bay went back to work on Tuesday after tests confirmed Parsons indeed sustained a season-ending tear of his anterior cruciate ligament during Sunday’s 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur said the three-time All-Pro defensive lineman hasn’t had surgery yet, but once he does, the expectation is Parsons will still be around the team during its current playoff push.
Parsons’ loss is a heavy blow for the Packers. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound pass rusher leads the NFL with eight sacks in the fourth quarter and overtime through 14 games while generating a league-high 83 pressures, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
In the 3½ months since Parsons’ arrival, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has tailored much of Green Bay’s sixth-ranked defense to Parsons’ strengths. That script will need a rewrite, beginning this Sunday against NFC North-leading Chicago.
“You’re taking a really good player off the field,” said LaFleur on Tuesday. “It’s not foreign to us, I would say, in regards to the scheme. You’re always trying to throw wrinkles in each and every week as well, some unscouted looks, and I think Haf has a great mind and is able to formulate all that stuff and make it simple for our players where they can go out and execute.”
Hafley showed a lot of ingenuity in his debut as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator in 2024, helping propel the Packers to their first top-five finish in total defense in 15 years.
Green Bay accomplished that feat despite All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander playing in just seven games, three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark battling a season-long toe injury and other in-season adjustments.
When players went down, others stepped up. Safety Xavier McKinney earned first-team All-Pro honors after an eight-interception year. Keisean Nixon filled Alexander’s void at perimeter cornerback. Both linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safety Evan Williams made the PFWA All-Rookie team.
To aid the pass rush, Hafley used a cascade of blitz packages and simulated pressures that incorporated both the linebackers and defensive backs into the mix to the tune of 12½ sacks.
That immediate return on investment was a big reason many were bullish on Green Bay this season prior to General Manager Brian Gutekunst making a blockbuster trade to acquire Parsons from Dallas days before the start of the regular season.
“I’ve been saying from the jump, (Parsons) added to what we had for sure,” said McKinney in Denver on Sunday. “He’s a hell of a player and he’s a game wrecker, but we have a lot of talent as well. I think that’s a good thing for us that we have these guys that are really talented, so they’ve just got to go in there and step up and be ready to go.”
As silver linings go, Parsons’ injury comes at the same time Green Bay is the deepest it’s been at edge rusher all season. On Sunday, Lukas Van Ness rejoined Parsons, Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare in the pass-rush rotation against Denver.
The former first-round pick missed a total of seven games due to a foot injury he suffered on a sack against Cincinnati in Week 6.
Van Ness’ return not only provides depth at D-end but also an extra interior rusher on third downs to offset the recent loss of Devonte Wyatt, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Thanksgiving in Detroit.
“I thought Van Ness was definitely a boost for us,” LaFleur said. “It was great to see him back out there – the energy that he played with. I thought he was running to the ball, running hard to the ball. Thought he was playing pretty well so, hopefully, we can continue to amp him up (but) it’s not going to fall on just one guy.”
Green Bay also could be getting back Brenton Cox Jr., who was designated to return from injured reserve two weeks ago after suffering a groin injury in the opener against the Lions. He was estimated as a full participant in Tuesday’s injury report.
The third-year defensive end provided a spark during the second half of last season, recording four sacks and seven QB hits over the final seven games.
In addition to special-teams stalwart Arron Mosby, the Packers also have two rookie draft picks – fourth-rounder Barryn Sorrell and fifth-rounder Collin Oliver – available.
Oliver has been on the physically unable to perform list all season due to a hamstring injury. Like Cox, Oliver’s 21-day practice window ends this week. Parsons was playing roughly 80% of the defensive snaps prior to his injury, opening opportunity for anyone who seizes it.
“Everybody just playing fast,” said Gary when asked about how the unit moves on. “Everybody still having that swagger, confidence and just understanding Micah made us better as a group, but understand that we’re still same players and still got the same group.”
That was the message Gary relayed to the D-line in Denver in the aftermath of the loss to the Broncos. With the team already down tight end Tucker Kraft, Wyatt, and now without Parsons, it’s on everybody to help Green Bay achieve its goals for this season.
“Just understanding what’s in front of us, understanding that we’ve still got the pen in our hand,” Gary said. “We can still write our story. Guys that’s been out the season – Tuck, D-Wy, (Parsons) – are going to be a reason why we’re going to finish strong, keeping those guys in mind.”
