Micah Parsons update: NFL insider updates chances of trade, Cowboys star playing in Week 1

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler updated the chances of a trade or Micah Parsons actually playing for the Dallas Cowboys Week 1. It seems like it’s the latter at this point.

Throughout the negotiations, non-negotiations, Jerry Jones speeches and demands from Parsons, he could actually play in a couple of weeks. It’s been weeks since Parsons requested his way out of Dallas and neither side has budged.

“They’re trying to stay optimistic, despite all the posturing all the game playing with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “Dallas still feels like Micah Parsons is getting himself ready to play Week 1, and that there’s still a chance that they can find a long term deal extension somewhere, despite the lack of real substantial contract talks. 

“They believe that closer to 10 to 12 days in, they can figure something out. One source equated it to Nick Bosa a couple years ago with San Francisco. He signed like four days before Week 1 kickoff. They got a deal done. Sometimes these things are ugly. They take turns. Now meanwhile, Dallas has gotten multiple inquiries from teams of potential Micah Parsons trade. There is definitely interest. They’re not really entertaining it though. They want Micah Parsons in uniform. Does he want to be in uniform as well?”

On Aug. 1, Parsons publicly announced he’d formally requested a trade from the Cowboys after the organization failed to agree to on a new contract with him. Parsons has been attending the Cowboys’ training camp and preseason games since then to avoid NFL fines, but not participating.

While Parsons may be willing to talk with other teams, the Cowboys don’t seem interested in trading the four-time Pro Bowler. And in many ways, Parsons’ future is ultimately out of his hands.

The Cowboys exercised the fifth-year option on Parsons’ rookie contract this year and could keep him under contract until 2028 by using their franchise tag on him. If Parsons opts not to play once the regular season begins, he could be losing $1.25 million each week. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided a behind-the-scenes look at Parsons’ dilemma.

“It is different. It’s gotten personal, and they’re no closer to a deal, and there’s no reason to think that the Dallas Cowboys and Micah Parsons will be able to work out a deal before the start of the regular season,” Schefter said.

“Now, again, it’s August 18, and sides always can come together, but we want to emphasize, there has been zero contract negotiations since late March and early April. Is that going to change all of a sudden? I don’t think so.”