FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer reiterated Tuesday what he had previously said: He is confident Micah Parsons will play their Week 1 game Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Philadelphia Eagles.
But will Parsons practice in the week leading up to the game?
“It’s different for everybody,” Schottenheimer said during a Tuesday news conference to discuss the team’s roster decisions. “The fact that he’s been here gives him a little bit of a leg up on the fact that he knows the defense. That could be a completely different story if he wasn’t here.
“At the end of the day, we want him out there as soon as possible. When he’s feeling up to it and all those things is a big factor into it. Every day that he can get out there and get reps would be great, but I do think very strongly that him being around, doing the walk-throughs, does help. There’s communication, there’s signals that come from the sideline, there’s communication from player to player. He’s getting all those things.
“But the best way to get good at football is to play football.”
Schottenheimer said he and Parsons recently had about an hour-long conversation. During that talk, Parsons never gave Schottenheimer any assurances that he will practice. Parsons recently had an MRI on his back. While there is the possibility for more tests, he is considered medically cleared to practice.
“We talked about a lot of different things,” Schottenheimer said, “addressed a number of different issues and things like that. At this point, I’m going to keep that between he and I, but we have a very, very good conversation.”
The Cowboys practice again Friday and then get into their normal game-week preparation on Sunday.
“There will be a ramp-up plan for him,” Schottenheimer said. “When he lines up out there to play, do I think he would play 75 plays and every play? Probably not. I don’t think that that’s real. But I do think that he can be very disruptive, like we all know.”
On Monday, Dak Prescott also expressed confidence that Parsons would suit up against the Eagles.
“I’ve got confidence,” Prescott said. “I’ve told ya’ll that way back when. And I’m just going off experience, honestly. No different than mine. I’ve got confidence in that. Just hoping, which I know he is, he’s ready to play.”
Parsons has been in attendance for most training camp practices and all three preseason games. His contract situation has been one of the biggest NFL stories over the last month.
“The business side of it always works out,” Schottenheimer said. “One way or the other, the business side always works out.”
(Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)