Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) observes in the second half Dec. 14 in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons’ return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament figures to take place a little later than the All-Pro initially hoped.

Parsons said the day after the Packers’ wild-card playoff loss to the Chicago Bears that he hoped to return for the season opener while acknowledging that Week 3 or Week 4 seemed more realistic. Parsons offered a more conservative estimate while updating reporters on his recovery Wednesday.

He underwent surgery Dec. 29 and said that he also “had to get my meniscus cleaned up.” Parsons said he’s following a “nine-month rule” in terms of how long to wait before returning.

Parsons was asked if that meant a nine-month delay before playing, or before practicing at all.

“I don’t know,” Parsons replied. “I just know it’s a pure nine months (with) no football.”

The nine-month mark would be Sept. 29, after the Packers’ third game. Considering Parsons may need more time to ramp up to game readiness, his actual return date could come a few weeks after that, though he isn’t setting a specific date.

“I would definitely say it is hard for me to accept,” Parsons said. Not only is it hard to accept that I’m going to miss more time than what I want, but obviously hard to accept the injury. It constantly replays in my brain. … Like you don’t even know how much time I spent on Chat GPT about my injury and how to like I just can’t accept where I’m at. I’m like, ‘Man, how do I keep progressing and progressing?’ ”

Parsons earned All-Pro honors and had 12½ sacks in his first season with the Packers before tearing his left ACL on Dec. 14.

The Packers were 9-3-1 and were leading the Denver Broncos when Parsons injured his knee. They lost that game 34-26 and didn’t win again the rest of the season without him.

“The goal isn’t for me to go out there and re-hurt myself trying to force myself to get back the first few games,” Parsons said. “The goal has always been playoffs, and I think we’re all on the same page.”

Parsons acknowledges maintaining that approach is difficult because he’s so eager to get back on the field and start working with new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who came over after Jeff Hafley left to become the Miami Dolphins head coach.

“All you can do is just try to make yourself better every day, and that’s all I try to do, control what I can control,” Parsons said. “Everyone is completely different in their processes whatever they had to get cleaned up throughout their surgery, so everyone’s different. Everyone’s bodies are different, everyone heals different.”