(This story has been updated with new information.)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Micah Parsons wore one shoe and carried the other in his hand outside of the visitor’s locker room of MetLife Stadium. To reach the Dallas Cowboys’ buses, he would need the assistance of a golf cart.
His left ankle heavily taped, the linebacker waited like he was a few miles away in Manhattan waiting for a cab. Parsons’ ride showed up and he hobbled in, with the next few days pivotal in determining the severity of the injury he suffered in the closing moments of the Cowboys’ 20-15 victory Thursday over the New York Giants.
With less than four minutes remaining and the Giants facing a pivotal third down, Parsons rushed through the center of the Giants’ offensive line.
Members of the Dallas training staff helped him gingerly walk off the field as he struggled to put weight on his left leg. He was later carted to the locker room with his left shoe removed. He walked with a significant limp in the locker room after the game.
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Giants center John Michael Schmitz blocked Parsons into Greg Van Roten, the Giants’ right guard, as Van Roten fell to the ground. Parsons was folded underneath Van Roten and appeared to be in immediate pain.
“As I was planting,” Parsons said, “a guy fell on me.”
Micah Parsons injury update: Latest on Cowboys linebacker after Giants game
Parsons confirmed after the game that he had suffered an ankle injury but had few details to provide. He said X-rays were negative but added that he was set for an MRI in Dallas on Friday. Parsons declined to elaborate on the nature of what the injury could be.
“We (have) no idea,” he said, adding that he had never felt that way on a football field before.
The Cowboys next face the Pittsburgh Steelers on ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 5.
Nobody in Dallas’ ecosystem appeared overly concerned. Head coach Mike McCarthy didn’t have an official update and said he hadn’t spoken with Parsons since he left the field during the game.
“Honestly, I’m just hoping it’s not anything serious,’ quarterback Dak Prescott said. “There’s not a lot of doubts or negative thoughts that go through my head, so yeah, didn’t even want to think anything major. So hoping that my thoughts are right and it’s something small. He looked in good spirits, so I’m in good spirits.”
Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs knelt next to Parsons while the latter writhed in pain on the MetLife turf.
“I was just making sure he was straight,” Diggs said. “That’s my best friend. I just wanted him to be good. But he’s going to be OK.”
Parsons had two tackles (one for loss) during the game. He left briefly in the first half with a neck injury after officials forced him to leave following a big hit he took from his own teammate, Cowboys second-year defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
The two-time All-Pro entered Thursday with six quarterback hits and one sack. The Cowboys won for the first time since Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. Parsons is convinced there is a lot more room for improvement.
“I’m done scraping by,’ Parsons said. ‘I don’t want to scrape by no more. I want legit wins – win consistently.”
