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Cowboys star Micah Parsons wearing club on injured hand vs Titans

By Jerry Trotta

Dec 29, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Barr (42) stretch before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Barr (42) stretch before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Cowboys are expected to take care of business against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football. Already boasting an advantage in the talent department coming in, the discrepancy in star-power increased ten fold after the Titans ruled out seemingly all of their key players for the game.

Tony Pollard, meanwhile, represented the only injury concern for Dallas. With the playoffs starting in just three weeks time, the Cowboys wisely rested the Pro Bowl running back for what should (should!) be a comfortable victory.

Having said that, Micah Parsons gave fans a scare this week after he popped up on the injury report with a hand injury. It’s unclear how Parsons suffered the injury — he wasn’t sporting any brace in his picture with noted Cowboys fan LeBron James on Sunday night — but he ultimately got the green light.

All good, right?

Technically, yes. However, Parsons once again triggered fans alarm bells when he was spotted rocking a club cast during pregame warmups.

How concerning is Cowboys star Micah Parsons’ hand injury?

In a vacuum, this isn’t that concerning. No tests were needed, and Parsons himself downplayed the injury to the media this week. While fans might have liked to see Dallas exercise a Pollard-like approach with the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, there was simply no convincing Parsons to sit out a primetime game.

That’s part of Parsons’ greatness. Athletes preach all the time about giving everything for their team and teammates. Parsons genuinely means it.

With just one sack in the last four games, Parsons has lost ground in the Defensive Player of the Year race. 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa has stormed past the 23-year-old phenom, leading the league with 17.5 sacks. While frustrating, Parsons understands his impact goes beyond sacking the quarterback.

It also isn’t that easy when you’re the focus of every opponent’s offense.

"“It’s not as easy as everyone or I may look or other guys may look or make it seem,” Parsons said. “I promise you, sacking the quarterback’s not that easy, especially when they’re game-planning against it and they don’t want you to get going.”"

Parsons is speaking the truth. While one sacks in four games isn’t what we’ve come to expect from the former Penn State star, he registered 12 (!) pressures against the Jaguars. Again, sacks don’t fully define a player’s impact.

It’d be great to see Parsons get off the schneid in the sack department against the Titans. More importantly, though, let’s hope the Cowboys establish a big enough cushion (preferably by the fourth quarter) against their depleted opponents so Parsons can take a load off and rest that injured hand.

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