The Green Bay Packers will face Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy for the first time on Sunday, and the first-year starter is really struggling through his first five NFL starts.

Can the Packers keep McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft, from getting off the struggle bus at Lambeau Field?

Any collection of statistics could help paint the picture of McCarthy's early issues. But let's focus on a few notable numbers.

Here's where McCarthy ranks among the 35 quarterbacks with at least 150 dropbacks this season:

Turnover worthy play %: 6.1 (35th, last)
Adjusted completion %: 69.6 (33rd)
Pressure to sack %: 22.4 (27th)
Clean pocket passer rating: 63.5 (35th, last)
Adjusted yards/attempt: 4.3 (35th, last)

The small sample caveat absolutely applies here. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season with an injury, has played five NFL games. But the early numbers look damning for even a young, inexperienced quarterback.

Protecting the football, throwing the football accurately, avoiding negative plays under pressure, consistently winning from clean pockets and playing efficiently as a passer combine to make up a big part of playing the position at the NFL level. And one could easily make the argument that McCarthy is statistically the worst starter in football at those important job description markers in 2025.

Last week, McCarthy threw two interceptions, including one into the end zone, averaged only 4.7 yards per attempt and finished with a 47.7 passer rating in a 19-17 loss to the Bears. The Vikings are now 4-6 overall and 2-3 in McCarthy's starts, including an 0-3 mark when McCarthy throws at least two picks.

The Packers, save for one tough night in Dallas against Dak Prescott, have handled business in the passing game this season. Entering Week 12, Green Bay's defense ranks first in the NFL in yards allowed per attempt (6.0) and first in yards allowed per completion (9.1). The pass-rush, spearheaded by Micah Parsons, has been effective, both in terms of creating disruption and changing the way offenses must play. There isn't a lot of true dropback passing going on against the Packers. It's a lot of short, quick game to negate the rush.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell is one of the game's top playcallers, but there are no plays that can consistently mask the wide-ranging issues of a young, inexperienced quarterback who is struggling early. And fixing problems on the fly while prepping for Jeff Hafley's defense won't be easy, even if there's optimism on both sides of the matchup that a better future awaits McCarthy.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he sees a talented quarterback who is going through the typical early hurdles of being a young player. O'Connell said he's waiting to “see the cement dry” on the fundamentals and the foundations of playing quarterback.

Will McCarthy take a meaningful step forward against a division rival on Sunday, or can the Packers ensure the development of the Vikings quarterback hits another speed bump?

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers to face struggling Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy for first time