Jets may avoid facing Packers star Micah Parsons according to NFL schedule release

The 2026 NFL schedule is officially out, and the New York Jets' opponents are set. They'll kick the season off on the road in Week 1, facing the Tennessee Titans, and return home in Week 2 to face the Green Bay Packers.

In the first of three straight games against playoff-caliber NFC North matchups, the Jets got a bit of a rough draw to start their 2026 season, but there is still some hope.

Beating the Packers will be a tall task for the still relatively young Jets. Green Bay was a playoff team in 2025 and has one of the best rosters and coaching staffs in the NFL.

But if there's one positive for New York, it's that it's early enough in the season that the Packers might be missing their best defensive player.

Jets may have lucked out with early Micah Parsons-less Packers tilt

Packers star Micah Parsons, who suffered a torn ACL in mid-December last year against the Denver Broncos, is still rehabbing from his injury. It remains unclear if he'll be ready for the start of the 2026 season.

The latest updates around Parsons suggest he likely won't be ready by September, and he'll be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Being on the PUP list automatically means Parsons will be out at least the first four games.

Beating Green Bay will already be a challenge for this current iteration of the Jets, but without Parsons on the field, it certainly will give them a better chance.

Before he went down with an injury in 2025, the former Dallas Cowboys draft pick was Pro Football Focus's third-highest graded edge rusher, recording 12.5 sacks and 27 quarterback hits.

Without that player on the field, the Packers' defense will be a little bit easier to handle, and the Jets' offensive line won't be facing as fierce a pass rush.

New York hasn't faced Green Bay since 2022, when the Jets travelled to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers. It was a 27-10 drubbing that was marked by a monster game from then-rookie running back Breece Hall.

Hall carried the ball 20 times for 116 yards, scoring one touchdown en route to his first 100-yard rushing game. Hopefully, he'll be able to recreate that production in Week 2.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow