The Green Bay Packers’ defense has clearly missed the presence of edge rusher Micah Parsons, a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro selection who continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered late last season.
Parsons has not yet returned to practice and remains on the physically unable to perform list. Head coach Matt LaFleur said the team is waiting for medical clearance before opening his 21-day practice window. There is still no firm timeline for his return to games, with some reports pointing toward November as a realistic target.
The Packers are 3-2 this season and will host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 6 without him. The Packers are 3-6 in games Parsons has missed over the past two seasons, including the playoffs.
That record sits at 3-2 in 2026. The unit has also dealt with other losses. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave both suffered season-ending Achilles injuries.
Those absences have left Green Bay leaning on younger pass rushers. Lukas Van Ness has generated 16 pressures, eight hurries, five quarterback hits, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks through five games, according to Pro Football Focus. Rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton has added nine pressures, five hurries, two quarterback hits, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
The lack of a clear return date for Parsons has prompted some analysts to suggest the Packers explore the trade market for help. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report wrote that Green Bay should consider acquiring an impact pass-rusher such as Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals.
“During the offseason, there was some trade chatter surrounding Cardinals pass-rusher Josh Sweat,” Knox wrote. “[General manager Monti Ossenfort has said he doesn’t want to trade Sweat but he] made that statement long before the Cardinals opened the season 1-4 and he decided to trade Harrison. Arizona’s willingness to trade Harrison makes it reasonable to question whether its stance on Sweat could also change.”
Sweat, 29, signed a four-year deal with Arizona before the 2025 season and is under contract through 2028. He carries a roughly $16.4 million salary-cap charge in 2026. None of his remaining money beyond this year is guaranteed.
“The 29-year-old is signed through 2028 but looms as a potential 2027 cap casualty. The Cardinals could release him with a post-June 1 designation in the spring and save $18.1 million in cap space. It could make more sense to trade Sweat, who had 12 sacks last season, well ahead of 2027,” Knox added.
Sweat, a former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, has been a steady producer over the past six seasons. He has recorded at least six sacks in each year since 2020. During that span he has tallied 297 pressures, 185 hurries, 51 quarterback hits, 51 sacks and eight forced fumbles.
His production has dipped early in 2026. Sweat has one sack and eight pressures in five games for the Cardinals, who sit at 1-4 after a 45-21 loss to the Detroit Lions. Arizona has allowed more than 30 points in four consecutive games and ranks near the bottom of the league in several defensive categories.
The Cardinals are not viewed as a playoff contender this season. Trading Sweat could return draft capital while his value remains relatively high, especially after the team already dealt wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Reports have also indicated Sweat is seeking a new contract.
Adding a veteran like Sweat would give the Packers another rotational option opposite Van Ness and Dennis-Sutton while Parsons continues his rehabilitation. Green Bay’s defense has shown flashes, including a 31-7 win over the Chicago Bears last week, but the overall unit has lacked the same disruptive force it displayed when Parsons was healthy.
Parsons himself has said he would play if the Super Bowl were this week, but he is prioritizing full recovery to avoid compensatory injuries. LaFleur has described the process as getting closer but still dependent on medical clearance.
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10. Any move for Sweat or another edge rusher would need to address both short-term needs and long-term salary-cap implications for a Packers team trying to stay competitive in the NFC North.
