Packers star Micah Parsons could return to practice as early as Week 3

GREEN BAY – Micah Parsons won't play at least the first four games this season, but it might not take the Green Bay Packers All-Pro pass rusher that long to be back on the field.

A new rule this season allows teams to open the 21-day practice window for players on the physically unable to perform list after two games. In the past, players could not participate in practice until the conclusion of the minimum four-week period.

General manager Brian Gutekunst expects Parsons, starting this season on PUP as he continues recovering from last season's torn ACL, will be pushing to hit the early part of that new window.

"I imagine when that time comes," Gutekunst said of the practice window, "there's going to be some conversations about things in what he can and can't do. Because he's going to be really eager to get out there. That's the one thing I think, I guess it doesn't shock me at all, obviously, but these guys want to play. They're unhappy when they're not playing. They want to be out there with their teammates, they want to be competing.

"Whether it's an injury or any other reason that they might not be out there, that's tough on these guys. Because they want to be out there. He's definitely in that category."

Gutekunst's comments were the clearest indication he's given to date on Parson's return timeline. Parsons has suggested he could be ready to play as early as Week 5, but the pass rusher acquired last year in a preseason trade from the Dallas Cowboys also said he and the team are not in a rush. Parsons believed his holdout with the Cowboys last training camp did not give his body enough time to prepare for the long haul of an NFL season, one reason for his torn ACL on a fluke play in December.

If Parsons returns to practice Week 3, it would put him on track to return sooner because he would start banking practice reps.

"We have a pretty good idea," Gutekunst said, "that once we get out of that four-game window we're going to be pretty close. As you guys have heard me say, I'm going to be pretty cautious with that. We've got a big investment there. He's really important to what we're trying to do, and to accomplish the goals we want to late in the year, he's going to need to be at his best. So I want to make sure that happens, but he's eager."

The Packers will be light on edge defenders until Parsons returns, keeping only four on their initial 53-man roster. Gutekunst seemed content in not adding more, viewing the position as a six-man depth chart with Arron Mosby and Nyjalik Kelly on the practice squad. Mosby, especially, could be a candidate for game-day elevations from the practice squad early this season. He's played 28 games for the Packers over the past two seasons and is a reliable special teams contributor.

Gutekunst made clear there was never any truth to offseason rumors about the team being interested in acquiring Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat via trade.

"No one from our organization," Gutekunst said, "has had a conversation about Josh Sweat with anybody from Arizona. Some things come out of thin air, somebody's making stuff up, because that's never, ever happened."

Tyrod Taylor was never in jeopardy of losing backup QB job

Late in camp, Gutekunst had more conversations about the team's plans with young quarterback Kyle McCord than veteran backup Tyrod Taylor.

Whatever the Packers expected of McCord after signing him at the start of the offseason, he likely exceeded this preseason. By the end, it was apparent the Packers would not be able to sneak him through waivers and onto the practice squad.

"He played so well during the preseason," Gutekunst said, "we obviously were contemplating do we keep three (quarterbacks)? Do we try to get him to the practice squad? What is the likelihood of that? When somebody calls you up and starts offering, talking about trade, the likelihood of getting him to the practice squad is probably not strong."

The Packers ultimately traded McCord to the Miami Dolphins for a 2028 sixth-round pick. McCord will now back up Dolphins starter Malik Willis, who was the Packers' backup behind Jordan Love the past two seasons.

In the Packers' ideal scenario, they might have been able to groom McCord on the practice squad this fall to be Love's primary backup in 2027. Gutekunst said there was never any thought of elevating McCord over Taylor as the top backup.

"Tyrod has a long history that we feel good about with being able to go into games and handling all the things Matt wants to do," Gutekunst said. "He's not going to have to reduce anything because Tyrod has done this for a long time, he's seen everything. Quite frankly in camp, I thought he performed pretty well. There were really no discussions about that. Kyle did a nice job, and I think he's got a bright future, but that wasn't where we were with that."

Gutekunst unsure if Tucker Kraft extension will come before season begins

Gutekunst said he would still "love to" reach an agreement on a contract extension for tight end Tucker Kraft before the season begins, but he's unsure if that will happen.

"Obviously we've talked to him," Gutekunst said. "No real updates there, but we're working towards it. Really would like to have that done before the season, but you never really now how those things will go."

The Packers overhauled their tight end position last week, signing veteran Jonnu Smith and trading for youngster Mark Redman from the Rams. The additions supplemented a group that will have Kraft, but the Packers are unsure when Luke Musgrave will play.

Gutekunst said he remains hopeful Musgrave can return from his neck injury this season. He'll begin the year on the PUP.

"We're really hopeful," Gutekunst said, "and I expect that to happen. He's dealing with a neck thing, and so we've got some time here before we're able to kind of figure that out. Because those things are obviously sensitive, but I would expect him to play."