Bridgewater inactive, Ponder to start at quarterback for Vikings against Packers

FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, file photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is taken off the field on a cart after getting injured in the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Minneapolis. Bridgewater's first start for the Minnesota Vikings couldn't have been better, except of course for the sprained left ankle in the fourth quarter that forced him out of the 41-28 victory over Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) (The Associated Press)

Minnesota rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is out the Vikings' game Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers because of a sprained left ankle.

Christian Ponder will start for Minnesota.

Bridgewater was listed as questionable coming into Thursday after spraining his ankle in the fourth quarter of his first NFL start Sunday in a victory over Atlanta.

Ponder will be the Vikings' third starting quarterback this season, following Matt Cassel and Bridgewater. Cassel is out for the year with a broken left foot.

Minnesota also activated second-year quarterback Chandler Harnish from the practice squad and released receiver Rodney Smith.

Linebacker Chad Greenway also is inactive for the Vikings.

Greenway is missing the game as expected with hand and rib injuries. He will be replaced by Gerald Hodges.

For the Packers, backup defensive lineman Josh Boyd is inactive with a knee injury. Green Bay signed defensive tackle Luther Robinson off the practice squad.

Brad Jones is active after missing three games with a quad injury, but Jamari Lattimore remains the starter at inside linebacker.

___

AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL