Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons is out Sunday night at Pittsburgh, where injuries are a major storyline for the visitors.
Parsons wore a protective boot and used a knee scooter to motor around the team facility this week, a strong signal he would be a no-go with the injury he sustained in the Cowboys’ 20-15 win over the New York Giants last week.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, the team leader with 3.0 sacks, was hurt in the same game and placed on IR, leaving the Cowboys without their top pressure generators against the Steelers (3-1).
Parsons has missed only one game in his career — in 2021 because of COVID-19 — but head coach Mike McCarthy said the Cowboys are keeping the big-picture in mind.
Dallas could also be without cornerbacks Trevon Diggs (ankle) and Caelen Carson (shoulder). Both are officially questionable and didn’t practice Friday.
“Man, it’s like, just frustrating, for real,” Parsons said. “Going from being ready and being there for the team, to being out hurts me because I feel like I’m letting people down.”
Parsons could get about a month of recovery time if he sits the next two weeks, which includes an Oct. 13 matchup with the Detroit Lions. The Cowboys (2-2) have a bye after that, then return Oct. 27 against the San Francisco 49ers.
While he said the long recuperation sounds good in theory, it’s not something he’s eager to do.
“When you’re a real competitor, you only get 17 chances at this, and missing one of these chances to perform at the highest level bothers me,” Parsons said.
Lawrence must miss four games after being placed on IR.
The Steelers ruled out linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) and running backs Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) and Jaylen Warren (knee).
Parsons, 25, was selected a first-team All-Pro in two of his previous three NFL seasons and averaged 13.5 sacks per year since the Cowboys took him with the No. 12 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
