Packers give Micah Parsons boost in return from ACL injury

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- In the back of their minds, those in the Green Bay Packers' locker room knew Micah Parsons' return at some point this season would matter only if they did one thing: Stay alive.

Three weeks into the season, there was reason to think that wouldn't happen. The Packers were 1-2, and the return of their star pass rusher was still weeks, even months, away.

Yet safety Xavier McKinney, one of the defensive captains, had one thought.

"Get back into the mix," he said, "and let's get this thing going."

By the time Parsons returned to the practice field Wednesday, the Packers had done just that. At 5-3 heading into Sunday's game at the New England Patriots (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox), they're…