Micah

Parsons

Parsons was a late addition to the injury report, being listed as questionable after missing Friday’s practice with the illness. Rapoport described it as a stomach bug. While a Friday DNP is always a bit concerning, players rarely miss time with illnesses, and this appears to be no exception. Parsons should be able to add to his sack total in a potentially high-volume game with the Bucs.

Parsons missed Friday’s practice before being listed as questionable. Illnesses don’t normally prevent players from suiting up, but a late addition to the injury report is a slight cause for concern. Down multiple starters on defense already, the last thing Dallas needs is to enter Week 16 sans Parsons. His absence would make a good matchup for Baker Mayfield even better.

“I’m going to try and work with them as much as possible to help them attack free agency,” Parsons said. “I want to be back with this team. This offseason, I want to be here. I want to get these guys right. I want to take big steps, so hopefully it can be done sooner than later so we can attack the offseason.” Parsons is one of the most productive defenders in football, and the 2021 first-round pick will likely become one of the highest paid defensive players in the history of the sport whenever he signs a new deal.

That makes twice in three days we have had to blurb a Jones saying that Micah Parsons was categorically unavailable. To which we say: Sure, Jan. The Cowboys by all means should hold on to Parsons, he’s a key piece of them pivoting back to a playoff team next offseason. But Jones has seem aghast with sticker shock on the prices that some of his best players have commanded as free agents, and Parsons may command the richest defensive contract of all-time heading into the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. He also may be coveted enough around the league to fetch more than just a single first-round pick. Since returning from a high-ankle sprain on November 10th, Parsons has 7.5 sacks in six games.

The Cowboys had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the negotiating table when it came time to extend Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. They held out as long as possible, but both players eventually got the contracts they deserved. We expect a similar runout for Parsons, who is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2025. If the Cowboys can’t find the money to extend him, a trade would be an option, but it doesn’t look like things will come to that. Jones added, “You don’t do well in this league letting guys like Micah, usually, leave the house.”

Oh dear. “Mike can leave and go wherever he wants,” Parsons continued. “Guys I kind of feel bad for (are) guys like Zack Martin and guys who might be on their last year or on their way out. ... You want to win games & do great things with those types of legends who put in more time and work than Mike McCarthy ever did.” Tell us how you really feel, Micah. If a star player is publicly sharing this type of sentiment, it is fair to say McCarthy has likely already lost the locker room. We expect his tenure with the Cowboys to conclude by the end of the season, at the latest.

After missing four games with a high-ankle sprain, Parsons is set to return to the Cowboys in a pivotal Week 10 matchup against the Eagles. Sitting on a 3-5 record, Dallas’ season is already on the brink of disaster. Parson’s return is welcomed by a defense that’s been among the worst in the league for much of this season. While Parsons is active, the Cowboys declared QB Dak Prescott, OT Tyler Guyton, RB Deuce Vaughn, WR Jonathan Mingo, CB DaRon Bland, S Juanyeh Thomas, and DE K.J. Henry inactive for Sunday’s game.

Parsons has missed the previous four games after suffering an ankle injury in the team’s Week 4 game against the Giants, boosting a Dallas pass rush that has maintained a high pressure rate in his absence. Parsons logged a week of limited sessions with his repetitions capped, meaning he might not immediately see a similar snap rate to the one he left behind prior to injury.

Parsons returned to practice earlier this week but never got in a full session. He has been out with the ankle injury since Week 4. With Dak Prescott on injured reserve, the Cowboys’ season is functionally over, so there’s no reason to hurry the star pass-rusher back into the lineup. Parsons is a true game-time call for Week 10.

Parsons did not practice at all last week before being ruled out, so this is a major step in the right direction. He has missed four games while nursing the ankle injury he suffered in Week 4. His return will be a boon for the Dallas defense but appears to be too little too late for the team as a whole. With Dak Prescott on injured reserve, Dallas’s season is on life support heading into Week 10 versus the Eagles.