The Green Bay Packers will face another rookie quarterback when they travel to Minneapolis to play the Minnesota Vikings in a must-win primetime game on Sunday night.
Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Jaren Hall — the team’s fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft — will start at quarterback against the Packers in Week 17.
Hall is replacing Nick Mullens, who threw four interceptions in a loss to the Detroit Lions last week.
The rookie from BYU has appeared in two games in 2023. He completed 8-of-10 passes for 108 yards as a replacement for Kirk Cousins at Lambeau Field on Oct. 29 and over two series as a starter vs. the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 5. Against the Packers, Hall lost a fumble but also converted a 3rd-and-8 with a 16-yard completion to T.J. Hockenson in the fourth quarter.
Hall is one of four starting quarterbacks for the Vikings this season.
The Packers have been shredded by rookie Tommy DeVito, veteran Baker Mayfield and rookie Byrce Young in the last three games. DeVito and Mayfield were both named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after facing the Packers, and Young set career highs in passing yards, passer rating and points scored last Sunday vs. the Packers.
Hall will face a struggling Packers defense that won’t have cornerback Jaire Alexander, who was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team. The Vikings offense will be without Hockenson, who suffered a season-ending injury last week.
Both teams need to win Sunday night. The Packers and Vikings are both 7-8 and chasing the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks for a wildcard spot in the NFC.
