While there have certainly been several storylines surrounding the Green Bay Packers during this 2026 NFL offseason, a list that includes losing defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to the Miami Dolphins and replacing him with Jonathan Gannon, trading Rashan Gary, losing several key contributors on both sides of the football in free agency, and a divisive draft class, nothing bears more importance to this franchise than the health of Micah Parsons.

Parsons, of course, saw his first season wearing the Green & Gold come to an abrupt end last December when he tore the ACL in his left knee during the third quarter of a Week 15 defeat to the Denver Broncos. That loss was the first of four straight for the Packers to close out the regular season, and they then took a heartbreaking defeat to the rival Chicago Bears in the Wild Card Round — a game Parsons believes likely would have gone differently had he been on the field.

Despite missing those final few weeks, the Penn State product posted 12.5 sacks in his 14 appearances and earned a fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nod, a third First-Team All-Pro selection, and a third-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.

As a torn ACL typically requires at least nine months of recovery time, Parsons’ status for the Packers’ Week 1 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings on September 13 remains up in the air. Rumors have been swirling that he may begin the 2026 campaign on the PUP list. Nevertheless, NFL oddsmakers seem to believe that whenever he does return, he’ll at least make enough of an impact to put himself in the Comeback Player of the Year race.

Micah Parsons sits third in the early 2026 NFL Comeback Player of the Year odds. Here’s a quick look at the top 10:

• Here’s a quick look at the top 10 in the early 2026 NFL CPOY odds.

  Player	Position	Team	2026 CPOY Odds
  Patrick Mahomes	QB	Chiefs	+160
  Kyler Murray	QB	Vikings	+600
  Micah Parsons	EDGE	Packers	+750
  Malik Nabers	WR	Giants	+1000
  Daniel Jones	QB	Colts	+1400
  Nick Bosa	EDGE	49ers	+2000
  George Kittle	TE	49ers	+2000
  Deshaun Watson	QB	Browns	+2000
  Travis Hunter	CB	Jaguars	+2500
  Fred Warner	LB	49ers	+2500

Parsons currently sits at +750. It is understandable why he trails Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, who actually suffered a torn left ACL of his own on the very same day Parsons did, also tearing the LCL in that same knee. Mahomes remains the face of the league, and the fact that he plays quarterback obviously doesn’t hurt his case.

What is more intriguing, however, is the player directly ahead of Parsons: Kyler Murray. The former Arizona Cardinal signed with the Minnesota Vikings after being released in March. Unlike Parsons, Murray is not recovering from a major injury. He suffered a foot injury in his fifth appearance last season and was placed on injured reserve before being shut down, but many viewed it more as a soft benching than a season-ending ailment.

When healthy and playing at his best, Murray is a dynamic and highly capable quarterback. Yet if both he and Parsons were operating at their peaks, few analysts would argue that Murray’s overall impact surpasses that of a premier edge rusher like Parsons — even accounting for the positional value of playing quarterback.

That said, the Vikings’ success with Sam Darnold the previous season provides a clear blueprint. If Murray arrives in Minnesota and performs at a similar level, it would be difficult to deny him serious consideration for the Comeback Player of the Year award.

For Packers fans and Parsons himself, this development carries an extra edge. One could conceivably say that seeing Murray, through no fault of his own, has given the star pass-rusher a little bulletin-board material for the 2026 season. And if Micah wasn’t already working tirelessly to get himself back on the field for the season opener, knowing he could face Murray in Week 1 might just provide the extra motivation he needs.

All betting odds courtesy of DraftKings. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. This content should not be considered betting advice. Gamble responsibly.