Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy had an air of confidence on Wednesday when discussing star player Micah Parsons. Parsons has been absent from the Star as the team works through OTAs, but according to the skipper, his absence means little to the Cowboys. McCarthy told reporters that he believes the fourth-year edge rusher will return to the team next week, echoing a report from NFL Network’s Jane Slater.
“Micah has been in and out,” McCarthy said, via Jon Machota. “Spent a lot of time with him Friday. He looks great. He’s in great shape. He hasn’t missed anything.”
Parsons is a vital part of the Dallas Cowboys defense. He has accumulated 40.5 regular-season sacks in just three seasons. Though he hasn’t been at the Star, Parsons has recently been at a local boxing gym, preparing his body for the upcoming 2024 season. He had a similar strategy in his offseason training last year and it resulted in him breaking his career-high in sacks.
Though it was expected that CeeDee Lamb wouldn’t turn up at the Star given his contract situation, there was hope that Parsons would return to the team after skipping the voluntary offseason training program. The former Penn State star is entering the fourth year of his contract with the Cowboys.
The team has already exercised the fifth-year option in Parsons’ rookie contract, but fans are hoping Dallas gets a long-term deal done with him soon to avoid a holdout situation. Though the workouts and OTAs are voluntary, the team’s minicamp from June 4 through June 6 is mandatory and his absence would, at that point, result in fines. Without an extension, he’ll make around $21 million in 2025. It’s a hefty sum, though it’s lower than what he would receive on the open market.
Micah Parsons to report for minicamp, media duties next week
According to Jane Slater, Parsons will be back around the Cowboys facilities next Tuesday. Not just for minicamp but also some “media responsibilities” within the franchise and from a national perspective.
“Just texted with Cowboys DE Micah Parsons. Parsons was not at OTA’s today in Frisco but tells me he will be back for in-house and national media responsibilities next week Tuesday, the 28th, and minicamp,” Slater said via X.
On top of working out privately and taking an overseas trip to China and Japan with C.J. Stroud, Parsons has also recently signed deals with adidas and Bleacher Report. The first-rounder is now the president of Bleacher Report’s Gridiron team.
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