The Green Bay Packers are on the verge of a significant boost to their defense as Micah Parsons targets a return on Thanksgiving Eve against the Los Angeles Rams, according to NFL Network. Parsons has been sidelined since Week 15 of last season, when he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus against the Denver Broncos.

Reports indicate that Parsons will return to practice next week, participating in individual drills, following the Packers' victory over the Carolina Panthers with a score of 27-19, improving their record to 5-3. If all goes well, he is expected to advance to team drills ahead of Week 10, with the Packers enjoying a bye in Week 11 before facing the Rams on Wednesday, November 25.

If Parsons steps onto the field that day, it will mark nearly a year since his injury and almost 11 months since his surgery, which included ACL reconstruction and a full meniscus repair.

Parsons had an impressive debut with the Packers after joining from the Dallas Cowboys in a blockbuster trade, recording 12.5 sacks in 14 games. However, the team's performance dipped significantly after his injury, dropping from fifth in yards per play allowed to 26th in the final weeks of the previous season, culminating in a Wild Card Round loss to the Chicago Bears.

Despite a promising start to the season, the Packers' defense struggled initially without Parsons. However, under the guidance of Jonathan Gannon, the unit has shown substantial improvement, ranking third in yards per play allowed since Week 4 and forcing an NFL-high 13 turnovers.

Adding Parsons back into the lineup could be pivotal for the Packers as they navigate the competitive NFC North and aim for a playoff berth, with SportsLine estimating a 61% chance of postseason qualification despite their current last-place standing in the division.