Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur kept the door open to All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons opening his 21-day practice window starting next week.

The Packers play on Thursday night and won't have an official practice before facing the Carolina Panthers in Week 8. But when asked if Parsons could begin practicing next week, LaFleur had a new and more optimistic answer on Tuesday: "I sure hope so."

Parsons, who tore his ACL and suffered meniscus damage on Dec. 14 of last year, has been on the PUP list since the start of training camp. He's missed the first seven games of the regular season and will miss an eighth game on Thursday night. The decision is still a medical one, and LaFleur is waiting for Parsons to be cleared to practice.

"At the end of the day, that's the medical. I'm itching at it though, for sure," LaFleur said.

Parsons returning to practice is only the start to his journey back to the field. He is going to need time on the practice field to ramp up, so even if he starts practicing on Wednesday of next week, Parsons likely wouldn't be available to make his season debut until Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings or more likely coming out of the bye in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams.

While not guaranteeing anything, LaFleur's answer changed drastically in comparison to past weeks, when he was able to provide a clear "no" answer on Parsons' practice status.

Next week? "I'm saying there's a chance," LaFleur said.

Parsons produced 12.5 sacks and was leading the NFL in pressures when he was injured in Week 15 of last season.