When the Dallas Cowboys traded superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, the NFL universe collectively circled its calendar for Week 4. As fate would have it, Parsons’ return to AT&T Stadium comes just over one month after the shocking transaction kept him within the NFC. While the four-time Pro Bowler undoubtedly is seeking revenge against the team that failed to sign him to a long-term deal, not everything about his trip to Dallas will be so sweet.

Squaring off against former teammates is a reality many NFL players face. For Parsons, he suddenly has the task of attempting to sack the quarterback he long shared a sideline with in Dak Prescott.

“It’s going to be painful,” Parsons said to the Associated Press. “Dak’s my guy. He was always a good mentor for me. But you know how it is. I always told him if I ever faced him that it would be a great matchup. So I’m excited to see what Sunday brings itself.”

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Despite playing on a limited snap count, Parsons has been an immediate force for the Packers. He debuted with a sack in Week 1, notched another half sack in Week 2 and is already up to 15 quarterback pressures through three games. Even when he doesn’t get home, he makes life significantly more challenging for opposing signal-callers, and Prescott will soon be on the receiving end of that prowess.

“I accepted my fate weeks ago when the trade happened,” Parsons told the AP. “It’s all about playing another game and just doing what I do best, and that’s be a disruptive football player. I think the media and the fans are trying to blow it up to be such a big thing, but I just look at it as just another game at AT&T.”

Tensions grew between Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in a drawn-out negotiation process that dated back to 2023. Parsons requested a trade out of Dallas shortly after training camp opened this summer, and rather than finally bending to meet his star pass rusher’s demands, Jones made a deal with Green Bay to move him off his roster.

The Packers promptly gave Parsons what he sought in Dallas, signing him to a four-year, $186 million contract that includes $120 million in guaranteed money.

“I have all the respect in the world for him, and we know him well,” Jones said of Parsons. “So you can bet that we’ll be preparing for what he brings to the table. We’ll be trying to come up with some antidotes for it too.”