Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons misses first day of spring workout program

As the Dallas Cowboys begin their spring workout program this week, star edge rusher Micah Parsons is not among them. Like his teammate CeeDee Lamb, Parsons reportedly did not arrive at the Star on Monday for the voluntary program, per Clarence Hill. It’s par for the course at this time of year for the former Penn State star, however. Parsons didn’t participate in the team’s voluntary program last year, choosing instead to workout privately.

Dak Prescott, Lamb, Parsons and right guard Zack Martin are all hoping for big extensions to stay with the team long-term and the holdout from voluntary workouts could be part of the push for those deals.

For now, the Cowboys’ activities are voluntary. That changes when the mandatory minicamp comes around in early June. The team’s spring workouts are exclusively for strength and conditioning, as outlined by the CBA.

Last month at league annual meetings in Orlando, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones opened up about the potential for a holdout this offseason. He cited former first-rounder Ezekiel Elliott as an example.

“Everybody goes about it a different way,” Jones said. “We’ve had guys who have been around. [Ezekiel Elliott] was never around when he was wanting a contract. So, we’ve dealt with both. We respect Zeke, but you prefer that they’re around when they’re under contract. It’s part of the business.

“You don’t love it, but it’s part of the business.”

Cowboys exercise fifth-year option on Parsons

Parsons has achieved amazing production during his first three years in the National Football League, racking up 13 or more sacks in three straight seasons. He’s well on his way to becoming one of the best pass rushers in league history. Since 2021, he’s totaled 213 tackles in 50 games for the Cowboys.

Last month, the Cowboys picked up his fifth-year option as a defensive end, which has a slightly cheaper price tag than the linebacker’s fifth-year option. As a defensive end who’s played in at least one Pro Bowl, Parsons will make $21,324,000 for the 2025 season. The former first-rounder would almost certainly prefer to lock in a long-term deal with Dallas this year rather than enter the 2025 season on a one-year deal.

During Parsons’ hiatus from the team last April, the edge rusher was “bulking” in Austin. He returned for OTAs in May, however.