The status of Green Bay’s recently acquired star edge rusher Micah Parsons adds an additional level of excitement and uncertainty to the highly anticipated NFC North opening matchup Sunday between the Packers and the visiting Detroit Lions, the defending division champions.
Parsons, acquired last week from Dallas in a blockbuster trade for two first-round draft picks and defensive lineman Kenny Clark, has been bothered by a back injury. Reports indicate that Parsons, a three-time All-Pro selection, would receive an epidural in order to play Sunday.
“He’s doing everything in his power,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday before practice. “He’s rehabbing hard. We’ve got to get through a couple practices to see how he responds, but certainly hopeful.”
Parsons was on the practice field in pads later Wednesday with limited participation.
Detroit defeated the Packers twice last season en route a 15-2 record and its second consecutive division title. Green Bay finished 11-6, three games behind second-place Minnesota.
“In both games that we played them, we got behind way too early, and that’s hard to do against a really good football team,” LaFleur said.
Green Bay is opening at home for the first time since 2018.
Quarterback Jared Goff directs the Lions’ high-powered offense, which averaged an NFL-best 33.2 points per game last season. Goff threw for 4,629 yards with 37 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also caught four TD passes for an NFL-best 20 scores.
Detroit, which finished 6-0 in the division, had to replace both coordinators. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took over as head coach of the Chicago Bears, while on the defensive side, Aaron Glenn became head coach of the New York Jets.
“It’s like this every year, Week 1,” LaFleur said. “No matter who you’re playing, if they do have a lot of film, you just have to prepare for unscouted looks.
“Certainly, I would expect that these new coordinators are going to have their own flavor to what they want to do.”
Detroit has its own premier edge rusher, Aiden Hutchinson, back after missing the final 11 games last season with a broken leg.
“He’s going to give you everything he’s got, every play he’s out there. Every play,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday. “That’s why I’m excited, because I know the guy’s going to give us everything he’s got.”
Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who had surgery in mid-August on his left thumb — his non-throwing hand — has been practicing and is expected to be ready for the opener. Love passed for 3,389 yards with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2024.
Green Bay upgraded its receiving corps, drafting Texas speedster Matthew Golden, the first receiver the Packers have taken in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002.
Josh Jacobs powered the ground game with 1,329 yards and 15 scores.
Veteran safety Xavier McKinney had eight picks in his first season in Green Bay, although often-injured cornerback Jaire Alexander, a former first-round pick, was released during the offseason and signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
Packers starting cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee) and wide receiver Jayden Reed (foot) did not practice Wednesday, while safety Zayne Anderson (knee), center/guard Elgton Jenkins (hip), defensive lineman Barryn Sorrell (knee) and wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Savion Williams (hamstring) were limited participants.
The Lions did not practice Wednesday. Linebacker Trevor Nowaske (elbow) and running back Sione Vaki (hamstring) would not have practiced had it been held, while guard Kayode Awosika (shoulder) and wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (illness) would have been limited.
The Lions have won three in a row at Lambeau Field.
“It’s got that deep history to it. It’s the grass, man. It’s the elements,” Campbell said. “It’s just the mystique. It’s awesome. If you love football, you love going to play there. So, our guys look forward to it. It’s one of those special places to go play.”
