Micah Parsons Gets Playing Time Update Ahead Of Week 2 – Report
The Green Bay Packers got off to a hot start in the first week of a season with an excellent performance against the Detroit Lions in a convincing 27-13 victory.
The win was the first time the Packers had beaten their Michigan rivals at Lambeau Field since 2021, and the win could be signal of a changing of the guard in the NFC North, with the Lions having secured the division title in successive seasons in 2023 and 2024.
What’s more, the Packers did it with new All-Pro trade acquisition, Micah Parsons, only playing around 45% of snaps on defense in week one, having only joined the franchise just over a week prior from the Dallas Cowboys.
However, despite the team playing on a short week on Thursday Night Football, and Parsons’ lingering back issues, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the new-Packer is expected to have an increased role against the Washington Commanders in week two.
Parsons Set For An Increased Role On Defense, Per Fowler
“The Commanders expect Parsons to not only play,” Fowler reported on Thursday afternoon,”but play more snaps than he did last week against when he logged 29 snaps. The Packers are trying to ease him in over the last few weeks; they don’t want to overdo it, they have enough players so they can bring him in rotationally.”
Some of this projected increased play-time could come as a result of Parsons’ personal desire to get on the field more and get unleashed by defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, according to Fowler.
“Parsons has been lobbying behind the scenes for more snaps. So you could see Green Bay take the tarp off the Ferrari, at least a little bit more.”
What Could The Packers’ Defensive Line Rotation Look Like In Week 2?
The two defensive ends with the highest snap counts in week one were former top-15 picks, third year pro, Lukas Van Ness and seventh year, Rashan Gary, who played 54% and 70% of snaps on defense, respectively.
Gary had a standout game against Detroit managing 7 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks, part of which was attributed by some analysts to defensive distractions from Parsons on the other side of the line, allowing the ex-Michigan man to roam comparatively freely.
Van Ness had an impressive training camp, but he ultimately stands to become the third man in the edge-rushing rotation, after Gary and Parsons.
If Parsons’ workload is set to increase, it likely won’t skyrocket to 90-100% of snaps, simply due to his injury risks, and – as Fowler points out – the numerous other capable players in Green Bay at the position.
But it is very plausible that the former Cowboys could play up to around 2/3 (67%) of defensive snaps in week two, if the Packers consider it necessary, and the former Penn State star’s back does not flare up immediately prior to or during the game on Thursday night in Lambeau.
No one knows yet quite how much Parsons will play, but if its more than last week, the Packers faithful will certainly not be complaining any time soon.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Hits New Low Ahead of Week 2
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders remains on the roster but it sounds like his workload has taken a significant dip.
Sanders earned a spot on the 53-man roster as the No. 3 quarterback behind 40-year-old starter Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. The Browns signed Bailey Zappe to the practice squad in August to be the fourth quarterback on the roster.
But according to Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland, Sanders hasn’t even been part of the scout team rotation.
I’m hearing that Shedeur is not even running the scout team. He’s watching everyone. Bailey Zappe is running the scout team. I don’t know if that’s true; that’s what I’m hearing,” Rizzo said on Thursday. “Why is he on the team? Why is he even here? Because his jersey is selling? The Haslams don’t need jersey money, do they?”
Sanders was officially inactive for the first game of the season but served as the emergency quarterback. He could have only seen action if both Flacco and Gabriel were unable to continue in the game.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Inactive for Week 1
Scout team reps may seem minor, but they’re an important step in Sanders’ development. Without those snaps, if he’s limited to simply watching from the sideline, his growth during this crucial rookie season could be significantly stunted.
Sanders’ lack of reps or opportunities has been a conversation since he arrived in Cleveland. In training camp, he worked exclusively with backups. During the team’s final preseason game, he was pulled before a critical two-minute drive to potentially win the game. Sanders played nearly the whole second half, completing just three passes and getting sacked five times before being pulled late.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski addressed the chatter that the team was “sabotaging” Sanders at the end of the preseason,
“Obviously, I don’t concern myself with outside types of things, but I’m committed to his development, just like all of our rookies,” Stefanski said. “So, we’ll continue to focus on getting our guys better, and that’s what we’ll stay committed to, and that’s what’s important to me.”
Shedeur Sanders Unlikely to See Field This Season With Browns
Sanders tumbled in the draft from a potential early first-round pick to the fifth round. Instead of being a future franchise quarterback, he’s been slotted into a developmental role with the Browns.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic said recently that Sanders isn’t expected to see the field at all this season unless something goes very wrong in Cleveland.
“For all the football conspiracy theorists out there trying to decode the real reason the Cleveland Browns drafted Shedeur Sanders, here’s the truth: There is no big secret. The pick wasn’t some master plan from ownership,” Russini said. “It was GM Andrew Berry’s call, rooted in his belief that Cleveland’s coaching staff could bring out the best in Sanders and help him grow into an NFL quarterback. It will be a process, and the Browns want to keep developing him.”
Russini added, “Don’t plan on seeing the fifth-round pick on the field this season unless things get really weird. Cleveland believes in Joe Flacco’s experience and Dillon Gabriel’s development as the backup.”
The Browns head to Baltimore this week to see the Ravens in a critical divisional clash.
