FRISCO, Texas – Brian Schottenheimer was in Dallas for three of Micah Parsons' four years with the Cowboys. After he became the team's head coach, many thought Parsons would be the staple of his defensive unit for years to come.
Instead, the Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in late August for DT Kenny Clark and two future first round picks. On Sunday, Parsons makes his return to Dallas with the 2-1 Packers in tow. Schottenheimer understands the media appeal that comes with the game and Parsons' return, but views it as just another opportunity.
"The guys know Micah's coming back, it'll be great to see him," Schottenhimer said. "Normal week, another championship opportunity."
Through three games, Parsons has played 116 defensive snaps, caused 19 quarterback pressures and registered 1.5 sacks. He's also opening doors for his teammates on the defensive line, as Rashan Gary leads the NFL with 4.5 sacks and putting him well on his way to beating his career high 9.5 sacks in a season.
Overall, the Green Bay defense leads the league in points allowed per game (14.7), is third in total yards allowed per game (232.3) and is third in rushing yards allowed per game (64.3). Schottenheimer knows that the Cowboys will have their hands full.
"Knowing Micah keeps you up even more at night, because I've him do things that I haven't seen yet in Green Bay," Schottenheimer said. "It means it's in there, I know he has it, I know he has those moves. Like I said, man, I can't wait to see Micah. I really can't. Been a huge part of this organization, and it'll just be great to see him – before the game kicks off."
And it's not just Parsons, it's the entire Packers defense.
"Micah is a great player. Micah is going to make plays, I'll just put that out there. Does he get a sack? I hope not. He might, he's pretty good... let's not forget, Rashan Gary is a hell of a rusher too," Schottenheimer said of the defensive end that leads the NFL in sacks with 4.5.
"This is a defense that's got incredible speed… they're deep and they're fast. Our ability to have success against the Packers defense will be about a whole lot more than just Micah."
The Cowboys will likely be without All-Pro WR CeeDee Lamb and two of their starting offensive linemen, center Cooper Beebe and rookie first-round pick Tyler Booker at right guard. In a game like this one with Dallas facing a potential 1-3 start, Dallas' next men up need to come through.
"[Jake Ferguson] is going to have a big section [of the play call sheet] this week, Fergie's playing really well right now…" Schottenheimer said. "Jalen Tolbert's a guy that you guys all know let us in touchdowns last year with seven, he'll have to step up if CeeDee doesn't play."
"Turp will have his, George [Pickens] is always going to be a focal part of what we do whether CeeDee is out there or not, that really doesn't change."
So much has and will be made in headlines this week about Parsons' homecoming to AT&T Stadium on the visitor's sideline, as well as what could have been for Dallas' defense if Parsons was still on the roster. That isn't even a thought for Schottenheimer.
"I would say that we have not been playing to the standard that we want to play to, but if we had Micah, you can't predict that we'd be playing any better," Parsons said. "You can't predict that we'd be playing any better or any worse… those are projections."
On Tuesday, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones admitted that this game meant a little bit more to him. As a competitor, the opportunity to win this game lights a fire under him, and the path to doing that is taking Parsons out of the equation.
"I think the world of Micah. I might say I wish him well but it's obvious I don't this weekend in terms of Green Bay winning the ballgame…" Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. "He's going to make some plays no matter how you play him, but when I saw people play us well with Micah in the game, and it did happen, then obviously we'll be looking to try to run those kinds of plays."
Obviously, Parsons wants the exact opposite to happen. In an interview with the AP on Tuesday, Parsons said he views Sunday as "just another game at AT&T," and the chance to sack his former teammate Dak Prescott is a bittersweet one.
"It's going to be painful," Parsons said. "Dak's my guy, he was always like a good mentor for me. But you know what it is, I always told him if I ever faced him that it'll be a great matchup, so I'm excited to see what Sunday brings."
Schottenheimer is too, and he's confident in his players.
"We can beat the Packers without CeeDee [Lamb] and [Tyler Booker] and the guys that we're missing," Schottenheimer said. "But the only way you do that is if you play well and you're executing."
