Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears could have one less concern on the football field when they take on the Green Bay Packers this coming season, at least in the first scheduled matchup between the two teams.
That will be in Week 5. It is the oldest rivalry in the NFL. It will still be as spirited as ever after Williams and the Bears won two of three meetings, including the NFC Wild Card.
That also makes any edge one side can get over the other critical.
Caleb Williams, Bears Get Good News in Significant Packers Update
Bears’ Caleb Williams Could Face Packers’ Pass Rush Without Micah Parsons
Williams and the Bears got to witness how different the Packers were with and without star edge defender Micah Parsons. They appear set to experience the latter in the first meeting between the two teams in 2026.
Parsons is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL and an issue with his meniscus. He is set to begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. However, he received optimistic projections about possibly returning in Week 5.
His brother, Terrence Parsons Jr., caused a stir by asserting that date was overzealous.
“I am not the source I just confirm or deny information,” Terrence Parsons Jr. said in a post on X on June 21. “When he’s starting on the pup week 5 was always unrealistic… need atleast 3 weeks of practice from whenever he starts practicing that’s the KEY.”
That followed a post from the previous day. In it, he said, “They weren’t tryna listen” about his brother’s recovery timeline amid reactions from local beat reporters.
The star pass rusher’s brother said Week 5 was “impossible” to accomplish on June 7. He pointed to Week 8 instead.
Locked On Packers co-host Peter Bukowski offered a timeline that would see Micah Parsons begin practicing in Week 3, even if he opens the season on the PUP list, which would afford him three weeks of practice before a game in Week 5.
Terrance Parsons shot that down, saying he did not forsee his brother–whose focus is on full recovering and avoiding additional future risk–practicing that soon.
Instead, Terrance believes Micah will not start practicing until “October.”
Micah Parsons a Difference-Maker for Packers
The Packers defeated the Bears 28-21 in the first meeting between the two teams during the 2025 regular season. Parsons certainly made his presence felt, despite failing to record a sack on Williams in the contest.
Parsons set a season-high with 7 pressures and tied his top marks for the campaign with 5 hurries and 2 QB knockdowns, per Pro Football Reference.
Without him just two weeks later, the Bears downed the Packers 22-16 in overtime.
Rashan Gary matched Parsons’ 2 QB knockdowns, but no Packers player logged more than 4 pressures (Gary) or 2 hurries (several players). It was a similar story in the postseason. Gary–now of the Dallas Cowboys–was the only Packers pass rusher to make an impact.
Parsons called himself “fire” to Williams’ “Iceman,” and the numbers somewhat bore that out during the 2025 season.
He could have to wait until Week 16 in Chicago to prove it, which is good for Williams and Co.
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