Micah Parsons Will Not Face the Cowboys in Week 6, and the Packers-Dallas Line Has Already Flipped

Micah Parsons will not play against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that the Green Bay Packers pass rusher was not expected to practice this week, and coach Matt LaFleur later confirmed Parsons will miss Week 6 while declining to rule him out for Week 7 at Detroit. Parsons is in the final stage of his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee, suffered in Week 15 of the 2025 season.

The revenge game against the team that traded him will have to wait. In the meantime, the absence matters for Dallas' offense, for Green Bay's defense, and for a betting line that has already moved across the key number of zero.

The timeline

Parsons had targeted Week 6 for his return. LaFleur said the team had made ground over the last week but that the medical staff has not given the green light, and that when he will be available remains to be seen. The Packers' approach has been consistent all season: no rush on a major knee reconstruction for a player on a long-term deal.

The next target is Week 7 at Detroit. Until he practices, treat that as a possibility rather than an expectation.

Green Bay's defense is thin up front

The Packers have absorbed a series of defensive injuries in the last two weeks:

That leaves Lukas Van Ness and Barryn Sorrell as the team's top edge rushers for now. Losing Hargrave and Cooper on top of Parsons' delayed return removes pass-rush juice and second-level tackling at the same time. Green Bay's defense played well enough to beat Chicago in Week 5, but that was against Tyson Bagent, not Dak Prescott.

The Dallas offense gets a better matchup

Dallas is 2-3 after a 24-16 home loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday night in Week 5, a game in which Prescott threw for 316 yards and drew boos at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys have had extra time to recover since that Thursday game, which matters for one player in particular.

CeeDee Lamb hurt his quad in the third quarter against the Buccaneers and finished with two catches for nine yards. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport described it as a quad bruise that is not considered serious, and with 10 days between games he is expected to play. Lamb has 39 catches for 507 yards on the season and George Pickens has 27 for 355, per Yahoo Sports.

Without Parsons, Prescott should have more time in the pocket than he would have otherwise, and Green Bay's pass defense loses its biggest disruptor. That keeps Prescott in the QB1 conversation for Week 6, especially with four teams on bye. Lamb is a must-start if he is a full participant by Friday. Pickens is a strong WR2.

Jordan Love and a shootout setup

The other side of this game may be the better fantasy story. Jordan Love has thrown for 300-plus yards in three of five games this season, and Dallas' pass defense has been giving up explosive plays all year. Love is a confident QB1 this week, and Green Bay's receivers, plus tight end Tucker Kraft, get a matchup worth chasing.

That is the reason the total has climbed. The game opened at 50.5 and has been bet up to around 52.5 at several books, which is one of the higher numbers on the Week 6 slate.

Betting angle: the line moved through zero

Dallas opened as a 1.5-point road favorite, an unusual opener given Green Bay's win over Chicago. The market disagreed, and the Packers are now favored by 1 to 1.5 points depending on the shop. The move came alongside reports that Parsons was unlikely to play and Green Bay's convincing win over Chicago, so it reflects both the injury news and bettors' read on the two teams.

For bettors, the useful angle is matchup-specific rather than side-specific. With Parsons out and Hargrave lost for the year, Prescott's passing yards and Lamb's receiving numbers are the props most affected by the news. The over in a game with two passing offenses facing two weakened pass defenses has been the market's lean, and the number has already moved. For the model's view of the game, check NFL predictions and the weekly picks piece at /blog/nfl-week-6-picks-2026.

What to do in your league

IDP leagues: Parsons stays in your IR slot or on your bench through Week 6. Do not cut him; a Week 7 or Week 8 return is plausible, and he is an every-week starter when active.

Packers D/ST: A risky start this week. Without Parsons, Hargrave and Cooper, this unit is facing a Dallas offense that can throw for 300 yards.

Cowboys passing game: Upgrade Prescott, Lamb and Pickens slightly. Confirm Lamb's practice participation by Friday.

Packers passing game: Love is a strong start, and his pass catchers are viable in a game projected to be one of the week's highest scoring.