Micah Parsons has third multi-sack game since return from injury in win vs. Panthers

Micah Parsons is playing at as high of a level as he ever has.

The Dallas Cowboys defense took a huge hit when All-Pro linebacker/edge rusher Micah Parsons went down with an ankle sprain and missed four games. The three-time All-Pro has been back for six games now, and although the team is just 3-3 with their win against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Parsons has been reminding everyone that he is the most unique defender in the NFL.

Parsons only had one sack in the first four games of the season. He has totaled 7.5 sacks since his return. What adds a little extra sizzle on it is that Parsons has recorded three multi-sack games over that span, which is tied for the second-most he’s had in one season during his career (also had three in 2021). This now gives Parsons 14 games with two or more sacks recorded. That is tied for the fourth-most games with multiple sacks by a player in his first four years in NFL history. Only Reggie White, Richard Dent, and J.J. Watt has more.

When you break this down, it’s truly incredible how often Parsons can sack the quarterback in bunches. He’s played in 60 games so far in his career. That’s means he has a multi-sack performance every four to five games, which is an unbelievable pace.

The former 12th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is now up to 8.5 sacks on the season. With three games left and the tear that he’s currently on, smart money says that Parsons will hit double digits again in sacks. Once he achieves that, he’ll be the fifth player in league history to have double-digit sacks in each of his first four seasons. Parsons would join the aforementioned White, Derrick Thomas, Dwight Freeney, and Claude Humphrey. All four of those players are in the Hall of Fame.

Parsons has amassed 13 quarterback hits since he came back to action. That is tied for the third-most by any player over the last seven weeks. Even when he doesn’t get to the quarterback, Parsons has made life very difficult for them. He has racked up 39 pressures and 23 hurries over the six games he’s been back. Another key note about how well Parsons is playing is that if he was able to sack the quarterback at the pace he has since his return for the entire season, he would record 21 sacks, which would be the third-most ever in one year.

It hasn’t been the best season for the Cowboys on defense, mainly due to injuries. However, since Parsons has returned, the unit is playing with a lot more effectiveness, and that’s because his presence draws so much attention that it allows others guys to make plays. There simply isn’t a player like Parsons anywhere else in the NFL.