Packers linebacker Micah Parsons has more sacks against the Washington Commanders than any other opponent and plans to be more involved Thursday night in his second game in Green Bay since being traded by the Dallas Cowboys.
Parsons sacked Jared Goff of the Lions in his debut, pushing beyond a pregame snap count determined by coaches and medical personnel because of a back injury.
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to let me push through some things,” Parsons said of negotiating on the sideline to get more snaps in the 27-13 win over Detroit on Sunday. “”‘You’ve got to let me get tired and get wore out out there so that way I can become better and get better.’
“That’s when it was like, ‘OK, your reps can go up.’ Sometimes you’ve got to fight for your own right to play.”
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said the Packers immediately got to work on packages that feature Parsons, but he’s put plenty of pelts on the wall in his career against Washington.
Parsons pulled down Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels 4.5 times in two matchups with the Commanders last season to push his career total to 10.5 sacks against Washington.
Discussing Daniels as a division foe prior to being traded, Parsons had only praise.
“I think he has the potential to be a (Patrick) Mahomes caliber. I got my hands full for the next eight years,” he said.
After the trade, eight years might not be as accurate as the four quarters ahead Thursday night on a short week of preparation.
“You got horse engines now. I don’t see nobody outrunning me from the edge,” Parsons said. “I played him a bunch. He knows — it’s different. He’s used to those 6-5, 265 D-ends. I just got to make sure I get vertical if I’m going to take the inside move. We’re going to give up some 5-yard runs or something. He’s going to get loose once or twice. We just have to make sure it’s not consecutive.”
Commanders coach Dan Quinn was defensive coordinator in Dallas each of Parsons’ first three NFL seasons. He was asked about Parsons playing Thursday after being limited in practice, and shared a suggestion for Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
“Are you asking what I would do if I was coaching him? I would sit him this week,” Quinn said.
Daniels implied the Commanders would have extra attention for Parsons because “you don’t let game-wreckers wreck games. He got paid a lot of money for a reason.”
That strategy speaks to LaFleur’s rationale for sacrificing two first-round picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to bring Parsons on board. Last week, pass-rushing bookend Rashan Gary had three quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks of Goff.
Parsons was also championing former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, who finished Week 1 with a team-best four QB pressures.
“I’m telling you, I think Van Ness is going to have his best year yet this year,” Parsons said. “I’m going to make sure of it.”
