What happened: Micah Parsons said he is five months into his ACL rehab with roughly four months still to go. He cited a strict nine-month protocol applied to players whose injuries involved more than the ACL alone, revealing that his December surgery also included a meniscus procedure. He described himself as encouraged by his progress at this stage of the recovery.
Why it matters: The extended timeline pushes Parsons' realistic return toward the early portion of the upcoming 2026 NFL season rather than its opening weeks. A nine-month runway from a December procedure frames any availability as an in-season build-up, not a Week 1 certainty, which shapes how his team manages its pass rush early in the year.
By the numbers: By Parsons' own account: five months into rehab, four months remaining, governed by a nine-month rule tied to the combined ACL-and-meniscus surgery. The procedure included a meniscus cleanup alongside the ligament repair, the added soft-tissue work being the reason cited for the longer, more conservative timeline.
What to watch: Watch for whether Parsons opens the 2026 campaign on the PUP list and any firmer return target as he clears the later stages of rehab in the months ahead.