Eden Prairie, Minn. ? Tarvaris Jackson has reclaimed his starting spot at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

The team announced the move on Thursday, and coach Brad Childress said the decision has nothing to do with the health of Gus Frerotte and everything to do with the way Jackson has played the last two weeks.

“I thought it gives our team the best chance right now,” Childress said. “It takes nothing away from Gus. It’s more a product of what Tarvaris has done with the ball in his hand.”

It’s been quite a turnaround for Jackson, who was benched after losses to Green Bay and Indianapolis to start the season yet now finds himself leading the Vikings (9-5) into a crucial game with Atlanta on Sunday. A win would give the Vikings their first NFC North title.

Frerotte stepped in for Jackson in Week 3 and won seven of the next 10 games, but also threw 15 interceptions in that span. The 37-year-old Frerotte injured his lower back two weeks ago against Detroit.

And Jackson has filled in superbly, completing 70 percent of his passes for 268 yards and five touchdowns in six quarters of work to help the Vikings to wins over the Lions and Cardinals.

“Sitting back and watching Gus play, I think he’s learned a lot from him,” receiver Bobby Wade said.

That much was evident last weekend in Arizona, when Jackson was 11-of-17 for 163 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in the 35-14 victory over the Cardinals that put the Vikings within one win or a Chicago loss of clinching their first division title since 2000.