GREEN BAY, Wis. – The adage that you don't lose your starting spot because of injury apparently doesn't fit with Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy's philosophy.

How else to explain the fact that Jamari Lattimore has retained a starting job despite the fact that the linebacker he replaced three weeks ago, Brad Jones, has returned from his quadriceps injury?

Jones, the opening-game starter, was declared active for Thursday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings but will not return to the starting lineup, the team announced before the game. He will be available for backup and special-teams duties.

Lattimore ranks third on the team in tackles with 26 (according to the team's official count, which is based on the coaches' film review) despite not playing a single snap from scrimmage in Week 1.

The Packers also activated defensive tackle Luther Robinson, who was promoted from the practice squad a few hours before the game.

With the Packers back at 53 on their roster for the first time in two weeks, they had to declare seven players inactive. They were receiver Jarrett Boykin, quarterback Scott Tolzien, cornerback Demetri Goodson, linebacker Carl Bradford, linebacker Sam Barrington, center Garth Gerhart and defensive end Josh Boyd. Three of the inactives – Boykin, Barrington and Boyd – were injury-related scratches.

The Vikings' inactives included quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, meaning Christian Ponder will make his first start of the season.