Football, more than any other sport, is a game of specialists, but once in a while, a player may experiment outside of his duties.
Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys is one of the game’s great pass rushers, and he got some real consideration for the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award, but he was seen taking on a new challenge during a recent training camp practice.
Parsons actually lined up with the offense and took a handoff from quarterback Dak Prescott, and didn’t look too shabby doing so, via Jon Machota of The Athletic.
Micah Parsons getting a carry pic.twitter.com/4wyBMuKPAy
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 9, 2024
Parsons hasn’t played running back since high school in his native Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and though he started his college career at Penn State at middle linebacker, he was eventually moved to outside linebacker.
In three NFL seasons, he has 40.5 sacks, 89 quarterback hits and 51 tackles for loss, and he has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of those seasons, as well as All-Pro First Team twice.
Thanks to his exploits, Dallas looked dominant at times on defense last season, holding opponents to fewer than 20 points 10 times and finishing fifth in fewest points and total yards allowed.
At the same time, the Cowboys could use another complementary pass rusher, especially after losing defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr., who had 7.5 sacks in 2023, this offseason.
Parsons, along with Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, is seeking a contract extension, and there is no indication that he’s getting close to receiving one he’s willing to agree to.
