Parsons set to play opener despite talks

The Cowboys indicate Micah Parsons will play in the opener as talks over his contract continue.

Cowboys expect Parsons to play opener amid contract talks

OXNARD, California, a long training camp backdrop for the Cowboys, has kept Micah Parsons mostly quiet. He has spoken to reporters only once and has not publicly addressed his contract status, even after posting a trade request on social media. On Wednesday, Parsons declined to comment as he left the field and owner Jerry Jones offered little new in terms of talks, saying there is nothing new to report and that Parsons remains under contract with a season opener 22 days away in Philadelphia. Jones added that there are no deadlines when a player is under contract and that Parsons is expected to be on the field for the start of the season.

With Parsons in the fifth year of his rookie deal, the Cowboys are weighing how to handle one of the league’s top defensive threats. Jones noted that an extension was discussed earlier and both sides shook on an agreement, but Parsons asked to speak with his agent, and nothing has been finalized. As the team returns to Texas, the possibility remains that talks could resume or stay quiet, while the team decides whether to keep negotiating or move forward with the season under the current structure. Parsons has attended most camp sessions, though he has mostly stood apart, while coach Brian Schottenheimer described him as “really good” in meetings and “very engaged” away from the field.

The episode illustrates a familiar NFL tension between a star player and a blockbuster contract. Dallas faces a practical choice: treat Parsons as a heartbeat of the defense or tense up the negotiation until a clearer financial path emerges. The owner’s stance signals a willingness to balance immediate on field value with long term leverage, a pattern that could shape how the Cowboys approach other top players. If negotiations stall, the risk is not just about money but a perceived lack of urgency that could affect morale and focus during a critical stretch of camp. The franchise tag remains a potential, but using it on Parsons would intensify a public conversation about how teams value their homegrown stars. The next steps will reveal how much weight the Cowboys place on loyalty versus market realities and how Parsons channels his talent through a contract dispute that is playing out in public view.

Highlights

Contracts will keep shaping the season as both sides decide how to balance desire with practicality.