The Green Bay Packers were given a scare when star pass rusher Micah Parsons appeared on Thursday's injury report with a pectoral injury, leaving him as a limited participant. The defender was a surprise inclusion, to say the least, leaving Packers fans to wonder if he'd be healthy enough to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Fortunately, ESPN's Rob Mevosky offered a bit of insight on the situation with head coach Matt LaFleur clarifying that Parsons' injury was sustained in last Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. Since it didn't happen in practice, there's a good chance Green Bay's top defender won't miss the Week 10 clash.
If the injury were concerning or serious enough to take the star out of the lineup for Monday Night Football, there would've been more coverage around the injury when it happened. Not only this, but Parsons wouldn't be practicing at all, even in a limited capacity.
Packers Fans Can Breathe Sigh of Relief After Latest Micah Parsons Update
The Packers always need Parsons' physicality, and that'll be even truer, with the latest weather report appearing to set up what will likely be a defensive-minded game.
There is a chance of snow with the temperature expected to drop into the 20s throughout the game, according to Accuweather. This sets up the important matchup to be a battle of rushing attacks and opposing defenses, playing a physical brand of offense and looking to shorten the game and injury risk in the inclement weather. It's easy to see why a tough competitor like Parsons could give the Packers an edge.
No other Green Bay pass rusher can look at the matchups with Eagles stars Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley and truly believe they have an advantage. The speed of Parsons is going to allow him the chance to help solidify the edge consistently and force Philly to put the ball in the air in less-than-ideal circumstances.
That helps explain just how exciting Friday's update was, as it points to Parsons playing on Monday and remaining in a pivotal role. For Green Bay, this is a chance to grab control of the NFC's top seed and remain in the driver's seat the rest of the season in a heated playoff race.
Losing Parsons for any other game wouldn't be as painful as it would be for a home showdown with the NFC's top contender. The Packers need every possible advantage at their disposal to have a chance to pull the upset after a disheartening loss to the Carolina Panthers. That highlights just how exciting it is to have Parsons expected back in the lineup after an injury update that appears to point to only a minor concern.