Micah Parsons vows to come back with 'anger', says it's 'very realistic' he returns from torn ACL to face Cowboys in Week 6

Micah Parsons isn't yet sure when he'll return from a torn ACL that cut his first season with the Green Bay Packers short.

But when he does, he has a warning for opposing offenses. He's coming back with "anger" and "frustration" and expects to be "great."

Parsons, a four-time All-Pro in five NFL seasons, was in prime form through his first 14 games in Green Bay last season, tallying 12.5 sacks and 27 quarterback hits. But his season ended early when he sustained a torn ACL in Week 15 against the Denver Broncos that required surgery on Dec. 30.

Parsons has been recovering and rehabbing for his planned return, which he talked about with reporters on Tuesday.

"When you come out of these situations, you're either gonna be better or you're gonna be worse," Parsons said. "For me, I've done everything I possibly can to be better. …

"People are worried about the knee. They should be worried about how I'm gonna play when I get back. The anger, the frustration, things that I'm gonna have to let out because of how long it's been since I played.

"I think that's what people should really worry about. How great is Micah gonna be when he gets back?"

Parsons' confidence has not suffered injury.

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Can Parsons return in time to face the Cowboys in Week 6?

So when will Parsons return? That much isn't clear.

The Athletic's Packers beat writer, Matt Schneidman, reported in July that Parsons' timeline could put him on track to return for a Week 6 showdown on "Sunday Night Football" against his former Dallas Cowboys.

Schneidman noted that the Packers have a strict "nine-month no-football rule" after a player tears an ACL, which would put him back on the practice field at the earliest on Sept. 30, four days before a Week 4 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Packers and Cowboys play at Lambeau Field roughly 2 ½ weeks later on Oct. 18, which adds to a reasonable but tight timeline for Parsons to ramp back up to game shape if he does return to practice in late September.

Parsons: 'It's very realistic'

Parsons spoke about the prospect of returning in time to face the Cowboys on Tuesday. He hedged his bets, but called the timeline "very realistic."

"I think it's very realistic," he said. "Me and the staff, we've got to put the work in. We've gotta get to the point where I'm feeling great and we say, Micah, you'll be in a really good phase.

"Is it possible, yes? I wouldn't say it's not possible. … We've gotta do our part to make it possible. It's not off the board, but we've got to put the work in."

The Packers aren't going to rush Parsons back before he's ready. But the sooner the anchor of their defense returns, the better, obviously.

Packers playing one of the NFL's toughest schedules

Green Bay opens its season with key games against the Vikings and Bears in its first five matchups, which will almost certainly be without Parsons. After the Cowboys in Week 6, the Packers will play the Lions, Patriots, Vikings, Rams and Bills in five of their ensuing seven matchups.

It's a brutal stretch of a difficult schedule for the Packers that can make or break their season. And that's before they close their slate with three games against the Bears, Texans and Lions.

Parsons' availability and return to form will be key for Green Bay's hopes of surviving that midseason stretch still in the NFC playoff race.