Micah Parsons to be 'unleashed' vs. Cowboys, Packers expected to move him around on defense, per report

It's the game of the week. This Sunday night, Green Bay Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons will make his return to Dallas to face his former team. 

Just last month, the Cowboys traded Parsons to the Packers in exchange for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. It marked the end of a months-long contract standoff, as in Green Bay, Parsons found the historical four-year, $188 million deal he was seeking. Now, he has a chance to make Jerry Jones pay for not paying him.

Parsons will be motivated to terrorize his former team, but how will the Packers use him? According to NFL Media, expect Parsons to be "unleashed" as far as his snap count goes. The Packers are also expected to move Parsons around on defense like Dan Quinn did during his time as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator. It sounds like Parsons will be utilized differently compared to Weeks 1-3. 

Remember, Parsons was traded to Green Bay just 10 days before the season opener. In some ways, he's been ramping up. Through three games, the four-time Pro Bowl player has recorded five tackles, six QB hits and 1.5 sacks. He's registered 15 pressures this season, including 13 over the last two weeks. That's tied for the third-most in the NFL in that span. 

As far as where Parsons has lined up with Green Bay through three games, 125 of his 128 defensive snaps have come on the defensive line. When he was with the Cowboys -- especially in his first two NFL seasons -- Parsons was moved around everywhere to keep opposing offenses on their toes. He registered snaps on the defensive line, at linebacker and even some in the secondary, such as in the slot. All five starters on the Cowboys offensive line will have to be ready to potentially face Parsons on Sunday. 

What Parsons has said about his return

Parsons doesn't have any hate for the team that selected him No. 12 overall back in 2021. In the statement he issued on social media following the trade, Parsons described himself as a longtime Cowboys fan that was destined to play football in Dallas. He even said "This is a sad day, but not a bitter one."

Sunday night, he's going to have the chance to hit his former quarterback, Dak Prescott, at full speed for the very first time. It sounds like maybe Parsons has mixed feelings about it.  

"It's going to be painful," Parsons said to the Associated Press. "Dak's my guy. He was always a good mentor for me. But you know how it is. I always told him if I ever faced him that it would be a great matchup. So I'm excited to see what Sunday brings itself."

Parsons also isn't trying to blow his return to AT&T Stadium out of proportion. It's simply the fourth game of the season for the Packers. 

"I accepted my fate weeks ago when the trade happened," Parsons said. "It's all about playing another game and just doing what I do best, and that's be a disruptive football player. I think the media and the fans are trying to blow it up to be such a big thing, but I just look at it as just another game at AT&T."

What Prescott said about Parsons' return

The Cowboys quarterback was asked about Parsons' comments, and he obviously hopes his former teammate can't get to him. Prescott is trusting those charged with protecting him. 

"I hope it's not [painful] for me. And I hope he doesn't get to me," Prescott said, via The Athletic. 

"It'll definitely be fun. It's one me and my fiancée were just talking about the other day. Just all the reps of practice going against Micah, times when he couldn't hit me, whether him getting back there, just the trash talk back and forth, me telling him he wouldn't tackle me anyways, he still can't bring me down. 

"Just getting to go out there and compete with a guy that that's a good friend, that I've competed with in numbers of ways throughout this building, outside of this building. Just excited to go and have that matchup. But he's got five guys up front, plus tight ends and running backs that he's got to get through. Then we'll worry about if he can get to me."