Texas — On a few occasions during Wednesday’s practice, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons huffed and puffed after a play or drill.
“My lungs were hurting out there,” Parsons said. “It’s basically like I’m re-starting my season all over again.”
Such was Parsons’ reality as he practiced for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain during a win over the Giants on Sept. 26. After practice, Parsons said his “chances are high” of suiting up Sunday when the Cowboys (3-5) host the divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles (6-2), which would provide a boost to a flailing team looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
Before Parsons can guarantee a return to the game action, the three-time All-Pro said he needs to get used to playing at full speed again. It’s a new challenge for him at this point in the year.
Parsons had never missed a game with an injury before he watched Dallas’ last four contests from the sideline, which means he’s also never worked back into shape midway through a season. Wednesday was a step forward. Thursday’s practice, typically the toughest of the week, will go a long way toward determining Parson’s status.
He wants to feel comfortable completing a difficult practice before he plays.
“I just have to go full-go,” Parsons said. “I gotta be back in pads, I gotta make my game-like movements. … You don’t want to go out there being limited. People might see that and try to attack that. That might be like, ‘Ah, he’s trying to brace for his leg.’ Or ‘He’s limping.’ You just don’t want to be the person that’s holding the team back.”
Before Wednesday’s practice, coach Mike McCarthy expressed optimism about Parsons’ recovery and the possibility of having his most fearsome defensive playmaker back on the field this week.
“He’s looking good,” McCarthy said. “He’s confident.”
The Cowboys struggled during Parsons’ absence, in part because of mounting injuries. Shortly before Parsons sprained his ankle in the fourth quarter against the Giants, fellow Pro Bowl edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence went down with a foot sprain and has been on injured reserve since. The next week, rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland left a game in the first quarter with a knee injury and also landed on IR.
With Sam Williams unavailable after tearing his ACL in August, the Cowboys played most of the past four games without their top four defensive ends. Dallas edged the Steelers, but then dropped contests to the Lions, 49ers and Falcons.
“It’s tough just because I feel like I could make an impact in those games,” Parsons said. “Six-point game, you’re telling me that me and D-Law can’t make a difference, an extra stop at one point in the game? It’s hard for me to believe that we can’t. So my goal, if I’m up this week, is to go out there and prove it.”
Matters grew bleaker for the Cowboys on Sunday when star quarterback Dak Prescott went down with a hamstring injury. But as Dallas turns to backup Cooper Rush, Parsons’ potential return to action could bolster the defense.
Though the Cowboys’ chances of reaching the postseason have plummeted in recent weeks, Parson envisions a path back toward playoff contention. He said defensive end understudies like Carl Lawson and Chauncey Golston have improved, and younger players like defensive tackle Mazi Smith and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown have developed more confidence in recent weeks.
And Parsons said he remembers how Rush steadied the team in 2022, leading the Cowboys to wins in four of five starts while Prescott sat with a broken hand.
“I still believe we can make a run,” Parsons said. “Cooper Rush has got a lot of talent. He won the games for us by doing the basics, just playing good football. So it’s not like he can’t do it. I got full faith.”
Parsons expects to be a part of the Cowboys’ solution soon. He just needs to start catching his breath more quickly, and if he can, he expects to play without a snap limit or other restrictions.
“Once I’m playing, I’m playing,” Parsons said. “It’s just hard to restrain that.”