GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Micah Parsons has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week following his standout performance in Sunday’s 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Parsons played 54 defensive snaps and recorded five tackles, five quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, and a career-high three sacks—two of which came in the fourth quarter. He also registered 11 quarterback pressures, the most by a Packers defender since NFL Next Gen Stats began tracking the metric in 2016.
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The 26-year-old joins eight-time first-team All-Pro Aaron Donald as the only players in NFL history to post 11 or more quarterback pressures, three or more sacks, and four or more tackles for loss in a single game.
Arizona opted not to double-team Parsons as frequently as previous opponents, and the four-time Pro Bowler took advantage, pressuring backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett—who started in place of the injured Kyler Murray—from multiple spots across the defensive front.
“For me, I don’t rush with a plan, I just rush to go,” Parsons said after the game. “I just know full speed and I don’t really say, ‘This is what I’m going to do.’ I just try and attack him how he attacks me, and I was just attacking today, and the coverage was a huge aspect. He couldn’t get to his first read.”
Green Bay acquired Parsons from Dallas just before the season in exchange for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, later signing him to a long-term extension.
So far, the trade has paid off. Parsons leads the NFL in pressures (41) and ranks third in pressure rate (22.3%), while tying for fifth in quarterback hits (13) and sixth in sacks (5½).
Sunday’s game marked the 16th time Parsons has recorded eight or more pressures in a game since entering the league in 2021, the most in the NFL over that span, according to TruMedia.
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This is the fourth time Parsons has earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He previously won the award in Week 2 of the 2023 season, Week 5 in 2022, and Week 8 during his rookie year in 2021.
“Obviously he changes their defense, man. Just because of the attention he demands,” running back Josh Jacobs said. “To be able to be that elite of a player and have probably the best game of his career—and still could’ve had one more (sack)—speaks volumes to who he is and what type of player we have in him.”
