You better not tell head coach Kevin O’Connell that the Vikings have nothing to play for this weekend.

Though the Green Bay Packers are locked into their playoff spot and will likely rest their starters on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings are still invested in ending this season on a high note.

A win this weekend would ensure the Vikings finish with a 9-8 record in the highly competitive the NFC North. That looked nearly impossible roughly a month ago when the Vikings were floundering with a 4-8 record.

“We set out on this journey when we were in some pretty dark times a few weeks back, and I laid out the challenge to our team,” O’Connell said. “To their credit, they’ve answered the challenge, and we’ve found a way to stack some wins together.”

Here are five young players that would do themselves good by shining for the Vikings this weekend:

J.J. McCarthy

It sounds like quarterback J.J. McCarthy might be able to give it a go. He was able to participate in practice on Wednesday afternoon at TCO Performance Center despite the fact that he’s still dealing with a hairline fracture in his right hand.

That’s a step in the right direction.

If McCarthy is able to turn over in time to play, he needs to continue to show growth. It has been a roller coaster for him this season as he has struggled to adapt to NFL speed.

McCarthy has only completed 57.3% of his passes for 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. It would be a major boost for him to put together a good game, even if he’s going up against a backups.

Tai Felton

It’s basically been a redshirt campaign for receiver Tai Felton as he has been able to learn the intricacies of the NFL without having to play a big role on offense. He has logged only 37 snaps on offense this season while carving out a niche as a key contributor on special teams.

It’s still unclear if Felton will see an uptick in his playing time Sunday. If he get more of a runway on offense, he needs to showcase some of the speed and playmaking ability that convinced the Vikings to draft him.

There’s a chance Felton has to step into a larger role on offense in the near future if Jalen Nailor signs elsewhere as a free agent. A solid effort in the finale would go a long way in Felton earning the trust of his teammates.

Michael Jurgens

It feels safe to say center Michael Jurgens has already played more this season than he originally expected. The assumption was that Jurgens would get to learn the ropes of the position while playing behind Ryan Kelly on the depth chart.

Those plans changed as Kelly has navigated a series of concussions that could end up forcing him into retirement. The ripple effect has been Jurgens being thrust into the spotlight as a potential replacement.

It would go a long way for Jurgens and his confidence if he’s able to confidently anchor the middle of the offensive line Sunday. He has had some ups and down spot minutes this season with room for improvement in pass protection and run blocking.

Dallas Turner

There have been flashes of brilliance from edge rusher Dallas Turner this season, as well as some growing pains here and there. He has shown the most promise as a pass rusher while filling in for injured edge rusher Jonathan Greenard.

The explosiveness that Turner possesses is evident when he can pin his ears back and do what he does best. The biggest challenge for him has been developing into somebody that can do it all.

It looks like Turner might get to go up against some backups Sunday. He has to dominate whoever lines up across from him. That should be the expectation as he continues to ascend.

Jay Ward

It looked like safety Jay Ward might be heading down a path that ended with him being nothing more than a star on special teams. He has since been given a chance on defense with Josh Metellus out for the rest of this season due to shoulder injury.

The physicality with which Ward plays the position has been palpable since stepping in as a starter. He’s an extremely violent tackler that makes his presence felt every time he brings a ballcarrier to the ground.

If Ward can have a good game Sunday, he could put himself in the conversation to garner more reps on defense. He needs to make the most of his opportunity.

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