The Minnesota Vikings are finishing their season on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers .
The game means nothing for the actual standings with the Vikings out of the playoff hunt and the Packers firmly locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC.
However, Week 18 does provide the Vikings one final chance to set building blocks for the 2026 campaign. Ahead of that game, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell made a big announcement regarding the quarterback position: J.J. McCarthy is back.
Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) practices before the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
O'Connell made the announcement on Friday.
"J.J. McCarthy will start the football game," O'Connell said. "He did a great job this week, had as close to a full practice week with a few reps on Wednesday he didn't take, but full the last couple days and he's in a good spot going into the game."
The second-year starting quarterback missed last weekend's game against the Detroit Lions due to a hand injury, but evidently, he has recovered enough to suit up for the Vikings' season finale. It was McCarthy's seventh game missed this season due to injury after missing his entire rookie season because of a torn meniscus.
McCarthy's 2025 campaign has been one filled with ups and downs. It got off to a shaky start with two interceptions thrown in four of his first six starts. However, before the hand injury he was starting to put things together.
The quarterback threw five touchdown passes compared to just two interceptions in his three starts before his hand injury with the Vikings winning each of those games.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy warms up before kickoff during pregame routines on Dec. 21, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The rookie passer went through timing drills and footwork as Minnesota finalized preparations ahead of a late-season road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
This weekend, he won't be going up against a full-strength Packers team, though. With Green Bay locked into the No. 7 seed of the NFC playoffs, the Packers likely will be resting a number of their starters this weekend.
That list of resting players includes Jordan Love , who won't suit up despite clearing concussion protocol. With backup Malik Willis also dealing with injury issues of his own, that means QB3 Clayton Tune will be making the second start of his NFL career.
Tune was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft before joining Green Bay this year. Because Kyler Murray was already on the roster, Tune has not seen much NFL action to this point of his career, and what we have seen from him hasn't been spectacular to say the least.
So far, Tune has attempted just four passes this season with only one being a completion for eight yards. In his career, he is 15 for 27 throwing the football and has 78 yards to his name with three interceptions. He is yet to throw a touchdown in his NFL career.
Green Bay Packers Clayton Tune (6) throws a fourth quarter interception against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Ravens defeated the Packers 41-24.Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
When McCarthy takes the field on Sunday, his own offense won't be at full strength, either. T.J. Hockenson will not suit up for the season finale due to a shoulder injury. The tight end also missed the Week 17 matchup with Detroit because of that ailment.
Vikings fans will be hoping, despite the absence of Hockenson, McCarthy's second outing against the division rivals will go better than the first time around when the Vikings lost 23-6 to the Packers in November.
With a win, the Vikings would finish 9-8, securing the third winning record during O'Connell's four-year stint as head coach.
Editor's Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference .
