EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -There's a part of Tarvaris Jackson that was thrilled to see the first extensive action of his career for the Minnesota Vikings, a part that can't wait to get out there and do it again.

The rookie quarterback sprinted onto the field when he got the call late in the third quarter of a 26-13 loss to the Jets on Sunday and delighted in throwing his first career touchdown pass later in the game.

``I haven't played in a meaningful game, really, since college,'' Jackson said with a smile after the game. ``It was fun.''

However, another part of him was crushed after watching veteran starter Brad Johnson, who has been a mentor, friend and confidante to Jackson in his first season, get booed off the field while the crowd chanted Jackson's name.

``He's a leader of the team and he's still going to lead the team,'' Jackson said. ``It's hard for me to just hear the fans do him like that.''

This is not your garden variety quarterback controversy in Minnesota.

It's no ``Any Given Sunday,'' Oliver Stone's football movie in which Willie Beamen, a young, ambitious black quarterback butts heads with Cap Rooney, the savvy, veteran white QB who perhaps has seen better days.

Jackson is in no hurry to unseat Johnson as the team's starting quarterback. Instead, he has shown a fierce loyalty to the player who has arguably taught him more about football in the last five months than he learned in his entire playing career.

When the discussion first was raised a few weeks ago, Jackson politely suggested that he wasn't quite ready to take over just yet.

And after throwing for 177 yards, one touchdown and one interception in just over a quarter of work on Sunday, Jackson again came to Johnson's defense in the face of merciless booing and jeers from the home crowd.

``It's very hard. I don't want to see that happen,'' Jackson said. ``Sometimes fans don't understand there's more to being a quarterback than just throwing touchdowns.''

After the game, coach Brad Childress did not say who will start Thursday night at Green Bay and was unavailable for comment on Monday.

Both Jackson and Johnson were also unavailable for comment on Monday.

Throughout the season, Jackson has lauded Johnson's willingness to help him to get accustomed to the NFL game, which is light years ahead of what he saw playing at Division I-AA Alabama State.

Johnson, in turn, has praised Jackson's physical skills and appetite for learning.

After being yanked on Sunday, the veteran pulled the rookie aside and gave him a few kind words, despite the awkwardness of the situation.

``He just told me to go out there and just have fun, play smart. And I appreciate that,'' Jackson said. ``A lot of the stuff I did out there, he helped me just by watching him. It's hard to see him go out like that.''

Jackson displayed much more mobility than the 38-year-old Johnson, avoiding a couple of sacks and tucking the ball and running on several occasions.

He also showed a very strong arm, but did appear to telegraph several passes, including one that was intercepted in the end zone.

``I thought he did some OK things with the bright lights on,'' Childress said.

The lights will certainly be very bright on Thursday night at Lambeau Field in a matchup of 6-8 teams clinging to the slimmest of playoff hopes.

And if Childress decides to go with the rookie for the final two games of the season, Jackson says he'll be ready.

``Of course,'' Jackson said. ``It'd be fun to go into Lambeau. I've never even been there. I always watch guys play there, so it'd be fun.''

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