Micah Parsons' Long Road Back

Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons is targeting a mid-October return after offseason ACL and meniscus procedures. That's a deliberately conservative timeline for a knee that also needed meniscus work — teams are increasingly willing to sit a star through the start of a season rather than rush a return and risk re-injury. It's a useful reminder for anyone recovering from a knee injury at any level: meniscus tears complicate ACL recovery because the meniscus is what actually cushions the joint, and rushing back before it's fully healed is how "successful" ACL surgeries turn into chronic knee problems down the line. Patience early buys durability later.