GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Clayton Tune will start at quarterback for Green Bay in its regular-season finale Sunday at Minnesota with the Packers intending to rest Jordan Love as he prepares for the playoffs.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday that Love has cleared concussion protocol, but isn’t expected to play against the Vikings (8-8). Green Bay (9-6-1) already is locked into the NFC’s No. 7 playoff seed, so Sunday’s game has no postseason implications.

Love hasn’t played since taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in the second quarter of a 22-16 overtime loss at Chicago on Dec. 20.

Love said he’s doing enough in practice that he shouldn’t feel rusty when he starts the Packers’ playoff opener.

“I think the only thing as a quarterback that you’re not simulating is getting hit,” Love said. “So, yeah, you go through training camp and it’s the same situation getting yourself ready for Week 1 where you’re not playing any games. It’s the same deal, but you can simulate it.”

Malik Willis played the rest of the Bears game and started the Packers’ 41-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, but he’s dealing with injuries to his shoulder and hamstring. Love practiced fully and Willis was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

The Packers also signed Desmond Ridder to their practice squad on Wednesday, giving them one more option. LaFleur said there’s a possibility Ridder could be active for Sunday’s game.

“Clayton Tune’s going to start, and then as far as the backup, we’re kind of working through that process right now,” LaFleur said. “Malik’s dealing with a hamstring. Obviously just got Desmond Ridder in here. We’re kind of taking it a day at a time.”

Tune signed with Green Bay’s practice squad before the season. The Packers signed Tune from their practice squad to their active roster Wednesday.

“Any time you get an opportunity to play in an NFL game, it’s a huge blessing,” Tune said. “So (I’m) just excited for the opportunity to go out and play and trust the training that I’ve put in for the last however many weeks it’s been.”

Tune, 26, entered the Ravens game in the fourth quarter and went 1 of 4 for 8 yards with an interception. He appeared in 13 games and made one start with the Arizona Cardinals, who selected him out of Houston in the fifth round of the 2023 draft.

He has gone 15 of 27 for 78 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns. In his lone previous start, he was sacked seven times as the Cardinals gained just 58 total yards in 27-0 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 5, 2023.

“I would say I’m obviously more experienced, been around the game more,” Tune said in regard to how much he’s grown since that start. ”Obviously seeing more looks, seeing more defenses, so I would say I’m obviously a better player just from being in the NFL for two years longer, but just I’ve seen it before and I kind of know what to expect now that I’ve got a start under my belt.”

LaFleur also said newly acquired cornerback Trevon Diggs “potentially” could play against the Vikings. The Packers claimed Diggs off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday.

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Julius Miettinen doesn’t have to be reminded of what happened a year ago. Or the year before that.

Or the year before that.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound power forward from Finland scored a key goal in the third period on Dec. 29, 2024, when the Finns knocked off the United States, 4-3, in overtime in Group A play at the World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

He was there a week later, too, when his Finnish team built a 3-1 lead against the U.S. in the gold medal game, only to see the Americans tie the score in the second period, then win the game and the gold medal on Teddy Stiga’s goal in overtime.

“After last year, the guys have wanted revenge, and this is the perfect timing for it,” Miettinen said with a smile after Finland lost to Canada 7-4 in the final game of Group B play on Wednesday night at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

The loss to Canada set up a rematch that neither Finland nor the U.S. expected to happen in the 2026 World Junior Championship quarterfinals. But Finland finished third in Group B, behind Canada and Czechia. The U.S. finished second in Group A after a 6-3 loss to Sweden on Wednesday.

That means the rivals will meet in the quarterfinals at 5 p.m. Friday at Grand Casino Arena.

“They’ll have the home crowd; everyone’s against us,” Miettinen said. “So, we have to go show everyone why we’re the best team here.”

Friday will mark the fourth consecutive year that the U.S. and Finland have met in a big spot in the World Juniors.

Last year, it was the gold medal game. In 2024, the Americans beat Finland 3-2 in the semifinals. The U.S. went on to beat Sweden 6-2 in the gold medal game, while Finland finished out of the medals.

In 2023, the U.S. blew out Finland 6-2 in Group play to win Group B, while the Finns finished second in the group. The Americans won bronze and Finland finished without a medal.

So, while this year’s quarterfinal matchup isn’t the most palatable for Finland — or the U.S. — the Finns don’t have to look far for motivation. Miettinen, no relation to former Wild forward Antti Miettinen, said the Finns know they’ll have a vocal U.S. crowd pulling for the Americans to hand them another blow in a big game at Grand Casino Arena.

“I can say, that gives you a lot of energy,” Miettinen said, “and we can use that energy to our advantage.”

Briefly

Sweden’s power play has been staggeringly good, converting on 50% of its attempts (9 for 18). … Sweden’s Lucas Pettersson was a plus-2 on Wednesday and raised his on-ice rating to a plus-7 in four games. Pettersson is signed with the Anaheim Ducks and currently plays for Brynäs IF in the SHL.  … U.S. forward and North Dakota freshman Will Zellers has five goals in four WJC games. … Switzerland is tied for first with Sweden for the fewest goals allowed in four pool play games.

QUARTERFINALS

All games on Friday.

Sweden vs. Latvia, Grand Casino Arena, 1 p.m.
Czechia vs. Switzerland, 3M Arena at Mariucci, 3:30 p.m.
USA vs. Finland, Grand Casino Arena, 5 p.m.
Canada vs. Slovakia, 3M Arena at Mariucci, 7:30 p.m

Forum News Service reporters Madeline Warren, Brad Elliott Schlossman, and Jared Rubado also contributed to this report.

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Forum News Service reporters Brad Elliott Schlossman, Jared Rubado and Jason Feldman take a shot at predicting which teams will win Friday’s World Junior Championship quarterfinals.

United States vs. Finland

When: 5 p.m. Friday.
Where: Xcel Energy Center.
Records: USA 3-1, Finland 2-2.

USA player to watch: D Chase Reid. In the absence of Cole Hutson in group play, Reid affirmed his status as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 draft. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound right-shot blue liner has a pair of goals and assists in four tournament games. Reid is over a point per game in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds and is a Michigan State commit.

Finland player to watch: F Oliver Suvano. The 6-foot-3, 209-pound power forward looks like a top-15 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. When he’s on his game, he can be tough to handle down low. For an American defensive group that’s had issues, that could be a challenge.

Why USA will win: The Americans got their wake-up call in a beatdown from Sweden on New Year’s Eve to close out pool play. The U.S. responded well to its preliminary overtime loss against Finland a year ago on the way to winning gold. It will lean on that experience, and WJC returners like James Hagens, Brodie Ziemer and Teddy Stiga, to avoid an early exit in an evenly-matched quarterfinal game.

Why Finland will win: The Finns aren’t flashy, but they’re solid all over the ice. Everett Silvertips teammates Matias Vanhanen and Julius Miettinen pose a danger on the top line. Suvanto gives the Finns depth. It’s a hungry group after losing to the Americans in the gold-medal game in overtime last year.

Schlossman’s pick: 3-2 United States
Rubado’s pick: 6-4 United States
Feldman’s pick: 5-4 Finland

Canada’s Sam O’Reilly (23) celebrates his goal with teammate Caleb Desnoyers (25) after scoring on an empty net in third period IIHF World Junior Championship hockey action against Finland, in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada vs. Slovakia

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Where: 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Records: Canada 4-0, Slovakia 1-3.

Canada player to watch: F Michael Hage. The Michigan sophomore has been arguably Canada’s best and most consistent forward this tournament. Hage, a Montreal Canadiens first-round pick, has two goals and six assists for Team Canada.

Slovakia player to watch: F Tomas Chrenko. You’d be hard-pressed to find a player who raised his draft stock more than Chrenko in this tournament. Chrenko entered the WJC projected to be a late first-round pick or an early Day 2 selection in the 2025 draft. He’s tied for the lead with three Canadiens to lead the WJC in scoring with five goals and three assists.

Why Canada will win: The Canadians have far too much firepower throughout the lineup. It’s no longer just the top line producing. The depth scoring showed up against Finland and nobody can match Canada’s depth, especially not Slovakia.

Why Slovakia will win: Slovakia will have a puncher’s chance against tournament-favorite Canada if it gets the goaltending it needs. Michal Pradel, a third-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings, started the final three games for Slovakia in pool play, posting a save percentage of .894 and a goal-against average of 3.46. If Pradel is on, Slovakia can repeat Canada’s quarterfinal exit from a year ago.

Schlossman’s pick: 5-0 Canada
Rubado’s pick: 5-1 Canada
Feldman’s pick: 6-2 Canada

Sweden forward Linus Eriksson, right, skates with the puck against Slovakia during the third period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey group stage game Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Sweden vs. Latvia

When: 1 p.m. Friday.
Where: Xcel Energy Center.
Records: Sweden 4-0, Latvia 1-3.

Sweden player to watch: F Lucas Pettersson. The high second-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2024 has been one of the best players on one of the tournament’s best teams. Pettersson leads Sweden in goals (4) and is tied for the team lead in points (5). He’s also tied with Finland’s Niklas Nykyri with a tournament-best plus-7 plus/minus rating. Pettersson has done all that while averaging just 12:24 of ice time per game.

Latvia player to watch: D Albert Smits. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound blue liner can control games at both ends of the rink. He’s long, strong and responsible defensively. He can impact games offensively with a booming shot from the point. Smits is working his way into top-10 pick contention with his play at the World Juniors.

Why Sweden will win: Sweden’s standout group of forwards, including Pettersson, Ivar Stenberg, Viggo Bjorck, Anton Frontdell and Victor Eklund, has made penalty killing a nightmare for opposing teams. Sweden’s power play is 9 for 18 through four games in pool play. Even when 5-on-5 scoring has dried up, Sweden’s man-advantage units proved they are more than capable of making up the difference.

Why Latvia will win: Latvia will get outshot and outchanced in this game, but the Latvians have looked comfortable in that position. They hung in with Canada until the end. They hung in with Czechia until the end. They’ve been a tough out for a few teams, and if Sweden struggles to pull away, look out for the Latvians.

Schlossman’s pick: 6-1 Sweden
Rubado’s pick: 7-0 Sweden
Feldman’s pick: 5-3 Sweden

Czechia goaltender Michal Orsulak (30) makes a save against Finland’s Julius Miettinen (27) during second-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship game action in Minneapolis, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Czechia vs. Switzerland

When: 3:30 p.m. Friday
Where: 3M Arena at Mariucci
Records: Czechia 3-1, Switzerland 2-2

Czechia player to watch: D Adam Jiricek. The St. Louis Blues first-round pick has been one of the best defensemen in the tournament, if not the best. He’s logging close to 25 minutes a game and making an impact on both ends. He scored the goal of the tournament thus far, going between the legs for an overtime winner against Finland.

Switzerland player to watch: G Christian Kirsch. The strength of the Swiss coming into the tournament was on the back end, and nothing that’s happened so far has proven that wrong. If Switzerland is to have any chance of reaching the semifinals, Kirsch has to be at his best. The 2024 fourth-round pick of the San Jose Sharks was outstanding in pool play, going 1-1 with a 1.01 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. He is likely to play college hockey and is currently uncommitted.

Why Czechia will win: The Czechs have been sneaky good in this tournament. They added top-10 pick Radim Mrtka to the defensive corps midway through, which gives them one of the best top-four in the tournament. They’ve got numerous weapons up front, including UMass freshman Vaclav Nestrasil, a Chicago Blackhawks draft pick.

Why Switzerland will win: This tournament is loaded with highly skilled offensive players. The Swiss are a bit different. They have some talent up front, but their strength is their defense. That corps is led by three NHL Draft picks — captain Leon Muggli (Washington Capitals), Ludvig Johnson (Utah Mammoth) and Basile Sansonnens (Vancouver Canucks). Undrafted Daniil Ustinkov has been their most productive blue liner; the 6-foot-1, 201-pound 19-year-old has three assists in four tournament games.

Schlossman’s pick: 5-2 Czechia
Rubado’s pick: 3-2 Switzerland
Feldman’s pick: 7-4 Czechia

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Everett spent one season at the U, replacing Nic McKissic-Luke who spent two years at Minnesota before going to the New York Jets last offseason.

Last fall, Everett coached a position group led by junior Darius Taylor, but it was a group that lost its No. 2 rusher, redshirt freshman Fame Ijeboi, to the transfer portal in early December.

Minnesota currently has two assistant coach openings at special teams coordinator and outside linebackers/nickelbacks. The former OLB/nickels coach, Kevin Kane, left to become Purdue’s defensive coordinator last month.

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