Micah Parsons says he'll play eight positions this year for Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons made quite a few headlines leading up to OTAs when he told reporters that he was planning to move to full-time defensive end. He even added a few pounds in the offseason to put himself in a better position for that move.

However, after Dan Quinn clarified that he would not make Parsons a defensive end, the third-year defender now says he’ll play as many as eight positions. He chose not to say which eight positions those would be.

“We’re doing a lot of special things,” Parsons said of this year’s defense, via Michael Gehlken. “I don’t want to give a lot away right now, but it’s going to be a really cool year. I’m probably going to play like eight positions this year.”

Expanding Parsons’ utility around the defense will undoubtedly keep opposing offenses on their toes. On top of that, the Cowboys want to increase the impact he has and increase the opportunities for the players around him.

Although his overall impact should improve, Parsons is already preparing fans to see fewer sacks from him in 2023. He earned AP Defensive Rookie of the Year after he racked up 13 sacks and 20 tackles in 2021. Last year, his remarkable level of dominance continued, and he tallied up 13.5 sacks.

Parsons coming off the ‘sack wave’

“Micah, clearly, is at the stage in his career, he’ll always be extremely impactful, it’s up to us to create those opportunities for him,” Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said on Thursday.

“From an offensive perspective, when you line up a premiere player at the same spot, it’s easier. The next measure of Micah being an elite player, it’ll be about impacting the game and the opportunities he creates for others.”

Parsons has taken his coach’s goals for him to heart. He told reporters on Thursday that he’s “off the sack wave.”

“I’m kinda off the sack wave. I’m onto the impact wave,” Parsons said, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “You see Aaron Donald. He can have 12 sacks, but the impact he makes is so dominant. You can tell.

“I really just want to be dominant. And then you see guys who have 16-17 sacks, but they’re not considered a guy. I want to be a guy, not one of the guys. You feel me? I’m not chasing for something. I’m trying to achieve and be greater than someone who is chasing.”