Steelers Preparing to Play against Cowboys All-Pro Micah Parsons

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers will still be preparing to face Dallas Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons on Sunday night, even if he looks unable to play right now, because of how much he can change a game.

“I use the phrase all the time: If you have red paint, you paint your bar red. With those dynamic edge people like (DeMarcus) Lawrence and maybe even Parsons out, we better get ready for a lot of schematic pressure from him, but we better also prepare for the likes of Parsons,” Tomlin said. “A guy like is not normal in any circumstances, so we better be prepared if he shows up in-stadium to work and minimize him and how they move him around and his unique talents, particularly in one-dimensional passing moments.”

Tests on Friday revealed that Parsons suffered a high ankle sprain in Dallas’ 20-15 win over the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football. According to a report by Ed Werder of WFAA-TV in Dallas, Parsons is expected to miss multiple games, which would include the Cowboys’ Week 5 visit to Pittsburgh next Sunday.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on Monday said the team is preparing to play Sunday’s game without Parsons.

Parsons has never missed a game due to injury at any level of football. He missed one game in 2021 because of COVID.

“Man, it’s like, just frustrating, for real,” Parsons said about his ankle injury that will likely sideline him on Sunday. “Going from being ready and being there for the team to being out hurts me because I feel like I’m letting people down.

“But when you’re a real competitor, you only get 17 chances at this. And missing one of these opportunities to perform at the highest level bothers me. I feel like I want to play on Sunday. If I can play, I will play, you know. To me, as long as I can run and move how I move, I want to play.”

JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 18: Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) sacks Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 18, 2022 at tIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)

The Cowboys placed defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on the inured reserve list on Tuesday. Lawrence suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot during last week’s game versus the New York Giants and will miss four to eight weeks.

The Steelers not having to deal with Lawrence and likely Parsons is a big break. Lawrence has recorded 14 combined tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble this season. Parsons has been quiet through four games, recording only one sack and two tackles for loss.

As Tomlin noted, Parsons is still a game-wrecker and one of the best pass rushers in the league, however.

In June, Parsons said he wants to remain a Cowboy, but if he left the team to ‘go home,’ he would head to the Steelers, not the Philadelphia Eagles, due to Tomlin. Parsons added ‘hypothetically’ to that statement, according to Clarence Hill. Parsons is from Harrisburg and played his college ball at Penn State.

Sunday night’s game is Parson’s first opportunity to play in Pittsburgh as a Cowboy. Unless something unforeseen happens, he’ll likely be out.

Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.