Parsons said it was "above my paygrade" whether McCarthy returns, and suggested at least one teammate "put in more time and work than Mike McCarthy ever did."
The hope is that the sudden rise in injuries is just an early-season blip, but there’s reason to believe the dark cloud hovering over the league is here to stay.
As the season crosses the midway point, here's a guide to some facets of the league that are worth following until the playoffs — and other things you can just ignore. Hello, Cowboys, Giants and Jaguars.