The Green Bay Packers' roster is drastically different from the last time the Washington Commanders played them just three years ago, but there will be a familiar opponent on the sideline at Lambeau Field.

The Dallas Cowboys ensured the Commanders wouldn't have to see pass-rusher Micah Parsons two times a year when they traded him to the Packers prior to Week 1, but with the NFC East playing every team in the NFC North this year, they and the rest of the division will get at least one more crack at him.

Head coach Dan Quinn, who was the Cowboys' defensive coordinator when they drafted Parsons, knows exactly how disruptive Parsons can be for an offense. There's no real way to completely eliminate him, but they will have a plan to limit his effectiveness.

"In Dallas he was one of our fastest players, so that's the hardest thing to simulate for an offensive tackle to see the first couple, two or three steps," Quinn said. "It's not at a speed that you can simulate in a practice rep."

Quinn said he had "an absolute blast" coaching Parsons, and it isn't difficult to see why. Parsons has been to four Pro Bowls, three of which were earned while playing for Quinn, with two First Team All-Pro selections. He was the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season with Quinn and second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022. In the three seasons he played or Quinn, Parsons recorded 40.5 sacks with 213 tackles, eight pass breakups and seven forced fumbles.

Coaching against Parsons is not as fun for Quinn, who joked on Tuesday that he thinks the Packers should bench Parsons just for this week. He ranked third in pass-rush win-rate last year and generated 70 pressures. He can line up at multiple spots on the defensive line and operate and cover like a linebacker. And as Quinn mentioned, his speed allows him to hawk down quarterbacks trying to evade him in the backfield.

"I think there's been some rushes that he could surprise some people if you haven't faced him, knowing that he can really jump off the ball," Quinn said.

Like other top-tier players the Commanders have faced and will see throughout the season, Quinn said they want to make sure they know where Parsons is on every play. If he's at a spot that could be vulnerable, such as him going against rookie Josh Conerly Jr., they want to do whatever they can to turn it into a strength. In Conerly's case, that could be adding extra support on that side, whether it be tight end John Bates or providing chip block help from slot receivers.

Of course, the Packers have several talented players on defense, which adds another layer of difficulty for the Commanders.

"You wanna have enough balance in how you do things to make sure that one player doesn't get too much attention, but also enough that they don't wreck the game," Quinn said.

But players like Parsons are why the Commanders dedicated much of the offseason to strengthening their offensive line to protect quarterback Jayden Daniels. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil, the most significant of those additions, has had a history of success against Parsons. Their 2022 matchup saw Parsons have little success in rushing the passer, as he had just one pressure and zero sacks.

In 2024, Parsons matched up against Tunsil for three snaps and had zero pressures against him.

The Commanders' offensive line isn't making the matchup with Parsons more than it needs to be. They know he's a rare athlete who has the ability to disrupt a game, but they want to focus on themselves and how they can work to protect Daniels from the entire Packers' defensive front, rather than one player.

"Obviously, there's a ton of respect for a guy like that," guard Brandon Coleman in the locker room after Tuesday's practice. "But you can't overestimate or underestimate. You gotta play your game."

Parsons has a history of putting together standout performances against the Commanders. In the eight games he has played against them, he has recorded 10.5 sacks with 15 quarterback hits. The Commanders are determined to prevent him from doing that again with a new team.

"You don't let game wreckers wreck the game," Daniels said. "You gotta keep an eye on him."