Is Jordan Love playing today against Vikings? Packers made shocking QB decision after clearing concussion protocol

Is Jordan Love playing today? Yes, the Packers backup quarterback has been cleared from concussion protocol and is active versus the Vikings on Sunday, January 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Love will serve as the backup to starter Clayton Tune after missing the past two games with a concussion suffered in Week 16 at Chicago.

Jordan Love Cleared, But Packers Rest Star QB to Prioritize Playoffs

Jordan Love passed concussion protocol on Thursday, according to head coach Matt LaFleur, 12 days after initially suffering the head injury midway through Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens. However, the Packers made the surprising decision to keep their starting quarterback on the sideline against Minnesota. Clayton Tune, a third-year undrafted free agent out of the University of Houston, will make his second career start at QB.

The decision to sit Love represents a calculated risk management approach by Green Bay’s coaching staff. With the team already clinched in the playoff bracket, the Packers are focused entirely on maximizing their star quarterback’s recovery and health heading into post-season play. Love has not taken a game snap since Week 16 due to the concussion, and the team believes resting him one additional week provides the best chance for full health.

Clayton Tune Will Lead Packers Against Vikings in Regular Season Finale

Clayton Tune becomes the third different starting QB to start for Green Bay this season, following Love and Malik Willis. Tune was originally drafted in the 2023 fifth round by Arizona before joining the Packers in August 2025. While his first start came against Chicago in Week 17, this matchup against Minnesota provides another opportunity to evaluate the third-string quarterback. Malik Willis remains inactive with a right shoulder injury and hamstring issue.

The Vikings finish their season at 8-8 record versus Green Bay’s 9-6-1, with Minnesota officially eliminated from playoff contention. Both teams enter this game with significantly depleted rosters, as backups and practice squad elevations will see increased playing time on both sidelines.

Matchup Factor	Packers	Vikings
Starting QB	Clayton Tune	J.J. McCarthy
Backup QB	Jordan Love (Cleared)	John Wolford
2025 Record	9-6-1 (2nd NFC North)	8-8 (3rd NFC North)
Playoff Status	Wild Card Clinched	Eliminated

Key Injuries Impact Both Teams’ Week 18 Rosters Heading Into January

Beyond the quarterback situation, both rosters are missing major contributors. The Packers will be without Josh Jacobs, their starting running back, forcing reliance on Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks. Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is also sidelined with a concussion. Starting linebacker Quay Walker and defensive end options are limited due to multiple injuries across the roster.

Minnesota’s situation is equally bleak. Former Packers running back Aaron Jones, who spent years in Green Bay before joining Minnesota, is inactive with a hip injury. Tight end T.J. Hockenson, second on the team with 51 receptions, misses the game with a shoulder injury. The Vikings have also ruled out several defensive starters, including cornerback Dwight McGlothern Jr. Both teams are essentially playing with replacement-level talent across both sides of the ball.

“That’s what practice is all there for, and I think we’ve done a great job of amping it up this week. Guys have been flying around at practice. We’ve been doing a great job. That’s where you’ve got to get your reps in and be able to maximize those and get yourself ready.”

— Jordan Love, Packers Quarterback

Packers Focused on Protecting Jordan Love for Wild-Card Playoffs Starting January 10

Green Bay’s coaching staff has made crystal clear that personal health and preparation trump winning this meaningless regular season finale. The wild-card round begins January 10-12 across three days of playoff games, and the Packers will need their star quarterback fully healthy and sharp. Love missing 10.5 consecutive quarters of game action since Week 16 has prompted the decision to get him reps in practice rather than risking another setback in a dead game.

Head coach Matt LaFleur emphasized the strategic nature of this decision, announcing it simultaneously with confirming Love’s protocol clearance on Thursday, January 1. By not elevating third-string option Desmond Ridder from the practice squad, the team solidified Tune as the starter and Love as the clear Number 2 option.

Will Jordan Love’s Recent Concussion Impact His Playoff Performance?

Love has provided no indication that the head injury will linger into the postseason, having fully cleared the comprehensive NFL concussion protocol. The first-round caliber quarterback has been practicing intensively all week and remains the team’s primary focus heading into January playoff football. Green Bay clinched their playoff berth on January 2 when the Detroit Lions fell to Minnesota, eliminating any mathematical possibility of missing the postseason.

The Packers’ decision to rest Love against the Vikings represents a micromanaged approach to quarterback health that prioritizes the next six weeks of playoff pressure over one regular season game. Love finished the 2025 regular season with 3,381 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions before the concussion. This one-week rest gives Green Bay their best opportunity to enter playoff play with maximum offensive firepower.

Sources

• Sports Illustrated – Packers-Vikings inactives and Jordan Love backup status
• ESPN – Jordan Love concussion protocol and playoff implications
• Green Bay Packers Official – Matt LaFleur quarterback update and team inactives