The Vikings need all the help they can get this season, and newly acquired QB Josh Freeman will get his chance to turn 1-4 Minnesota's season around sooner than expected.
The Vikings will start Freeman on Monday night against the New York Giants, the team announced Wednesday.
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Since taking over for Christian Ponder (broken rib) in Week 5, Matt Cassel is completing nearly 70 percent of his pass attempts, but two interceptions in Sunday's blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers apparently have the Vikings looking to the future with Freeman.
Freeman, 25, signed a one-year contract with the Vikings last week. He was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he was benched, lost his title as captain and was banned from the sideline and team meetings. Freeman completed just 45.7 percent of his passes (43-for-94) and threw three interceptions before losing the starting job.
Cassel led the Vikings to their lone win of the season thus far, over the Pittsburgh Steelers in London on Sept. 29.