Parsons Back at Practice After 11 Months as Packers Open Comeback Window

Micah Parsons is back on a football field. The Green Bay Packers star practised on Wednesday for the first time in almost 11 months, taking a major step toward his return from the torn ACL and meniscus that have kept him out since mid-December. Parsons suffered the injury in a December 14 loss at Denver and had surgery on December 29, missing the entire offseason and the first eight games of this season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Wednesday's session was limited to individual drills, but head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the All-Pro edge rusher has been fully cleared, and his return opens a 21-day window in which the Packers must activate him. Parsons called the day "fulfilling" but refused to set a date for his first game, saying he needs to "stack 20 days and hopefully on that 21st day I feel incredible." He was honest about where he stands, admitting his conditioning is probably the worst it has been in his career and that his knee is not yet built for full action. Reports point to the Thanksgiving Eve trip to the Los Angeles Rams on November 25 as the target. He will definitely not play Sunday at New England. But for a Packers defence already ranked in the top 10 in points and yards allowed, the sight of Parsons back in pads is a huge lift heading into the stretch run.