Micah Parsons had heartbreaking reaction to Zack Martin's season-ending injury

All the good vibes stemming from the Dallas Cowboys' two-game winning streak were wiped out Thursday when Mike McCarthy announced that right guard Zack Martin will undergo season-ending surgery on his ankle.

It had already been speculated that Martin could retire after the season. That discourse suddenly becomes very real. The seven-time All-Pro turned 34 years old last month and hadn't perform up to his normal superhuman standard before the injury.

News of Martin's surgery left the Cowboys locker room devastated. Micah Parsons specifically took the announcement very hard.

If you remember, Parsons created a national stir a few weeks back when he was asked about McCarthy's future with the Cowboys. With Dallas free-falling, Parsons said he felt worse for the veterans on the team, like Martin, who may leave after the season or call it a career.

Parsons was visibly shaken up when addressing the media about Martin's future.

Cowboys star Micah Parsons reacts to Zack Martin's season-ending injury

"I really just hate to see him go out like this," Parsons said. "Last year of his deal and because of everything he really meant to this team, the work he put in, the time, effort, man, it’s just truly, it’s sickening for us because of how important he is to the team. But my heart and I’m just saddened that it went like this."

"I think he will retire before he plays for anybody else. … He will never play for another team. I just hope he’s got one more year left in his tank. … I want one more year."

Parsons put it perfectly.

Selfishly, Parsons and everyone else inside the Cowboys' locker room wants Martin to play one more year. With everything Martin has given to the franchise, if there was any player who deserved to go out on their own terms, it's No. 70.

At the same time, Martin's body might finally be betraying him. This isn't his first surgery on the ankle that ended his season prematurely. While still a serviceable guard, Martin had not been the dominant stonewaller this season that he personified throughout his career.

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The future Hall of Famer posted career-lows across the board in terms of PFF player grade, run-blocking grade and pass-blocking grade. He had already allowed a career-high in sacks, hurries and pressures.

Incredibly, his numbers are still above average compared to most interior offensive linemen. That is the testament of an all-time great. Taking Martin's dip in production and health into account, it is natural to ponder if 2024 will be his last.

Parsons clearly knows retirement is on the table for the nine-time Pro Bowler. Even if the Cowboys don't make the playoffs, Martin deserved to play all 17 in his final season. He tried to battle through the injury, but his body simply wouldn't allow it.

We won't eulogize Martin's career until he makes a decision on his future, but his legacy speaks for itself. He's arguably the best offensive lineman of his generation and one of the greatest players in franchise history.

It is only a matter of time until Martin is enshrined in the Cowboys' Ring of Honor and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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