Dallas Cowboys edge Micah Parsons' status 'in the air' for San Francisco game

FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys won’t release their final practice report of the week until Friday. Which means, we won’t have an official designation on star pass rusher Micah Parsons’ potential to play until then.

So, for now, just take Parsons’ word for it.

“It’s still [up] in the air,” Parsons said about whether he can play against San Francisco on Sunday. “Obviously it’s more than just me. I have to clear it with Britt [Brown], the coaches, the head coach. They want to make sure — obviously because there’s so many games left — that I come back at the best result. Sometimes, it’s not always the player’s decision. It’s the people with the higher pay grade.”

The Cowboys could use Parsons. He’s their highest-graded defender, according to Pro Football Focus. He may not have the sacks and pressures of year’s past, but he’s still fifth in the NFL in terms of pass rush win rate, per PFF.

But the Parsons the Cowboys need is also the best-version of Parsons. Parsons said there wasn’t really any chance he could play against the Detroit Lions. He said he’s progressed from where he was a week ago.

“The thing with my injury is that it’s determined person-to-person,” Parsons said about the rehab back from the ankle sprain, which he suffered in a Week 4 win over the New York Giants.

“For me, it’s more of just getting the sense of how I explode back. Just acceleration and things like that. That’s kind of like the biggest thing for me.”

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Parsons was at the facility during the bye week rehabbing and working. He said Parsons is making progress.

Parsons was asked if he’s optimistic about his chances of playing against the 49ers.

“My hopes are always very high,” Parsons said. “I love great challenges. I love being able to beat the odds. I’m going to put this up to my trainers and my coaching staff.”

Dallas has lost to San Francisco each of the last three times they’ve played, including twice in the postseason. Getting Parsons back would be important toward trying to end that streak.