Vikings' Greenway out for Sunday, consecutive games streak to come to end

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Chad Greenway's streak of 90 consecutive starts and 115 straight games will end Sunday. 

Greenway, dealing with a broken rib and broken hand, has been listed as out for the Minnesota Vikings' home game Sunday against Atlanta. Greenway hasn't practiced all week and will miss his first game since 2006 when he was out his entire rookie season with a knee injury.

"Been a while, yeah, so it will be difficult," Greenway said of watching from the sideline. "The whole thing is obviously not how you draw it up. So, it's part of the game, guys deal with it all the time."

Greenway has said the broken rib is the more significant of the two injuries.

"It's fairly indescribable, to be honest with you," Greenway said. "Anybody that's had a rib (injury) before . . . it's much respect for the ribs."

Greenway has started every game since 2008, having come off the bench once since starting his NFL career in 2007. Greenway's streak of 90 straight starts is the longest active streak by an NFL linebacker.

"Nothing's going to be forever," Greenway said. "So it's not that big of a deal."

Second-year linebacker Gerald Hodges will likely start Sunday in Greenway's place. Greenway has led Minnesota in tackles each of the past six seasons and has 912 career tackles.

Hodges, a fourth-round draft pick by the Vikings last season out of Penn State, would make his first NFL start. He has 18 career tackles in 14 games.

The Vikings will have a short week of preparation for the following week with a Thursday game in Green Bay.

"I'm just going to try to do all I can do to get ready (for the Packers)," Greenway said. "Reality is the season is very young and a lot of games to play, so just want to be able to help the team win. That's the biggest thing."

Tight end Kyle Rudolph was also listed out for Minnesota. Rudolph had sports hernia surgery Tuesday and is out several weeks, though the team hasn't announced a timeframe for Rudolph's return.

Cornerback Josh Robinson, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury, is listed as questionable. He was limited in Friday's practice.

Nose tackle Linval Joseph (shoulder), safety Harrison Smith (knee), defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (shoulder), receiver Rodney Smith (hamstring), and linebackers Michael Mauti (foot) and Brandon Watts (knee) were listed as probable after being full participants in Friday's practice.

Munnerlyn escapes fine: Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, who was called for unnecessary roughness last week when he took down New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, wasn't fined for the penalty.

The call ended up being a big play in the game as the Saints were able to extend a drive instead of punting and eventually scored a touchdown in the 20-9 Vikings' loss.

Munnerlyn expressed his displeasure with the call earlier this week and said he'd appeal any fine. But the league decided not to take any further action against Munnerlyn.

Cassel has surgery, Rudolph returns: Quarterback Matt Cassel, on injured reserve after breaking bones in his foot on Sunday, had surgery Friday.

Cassel will be out the rest of the season. Zimmer hadn't heard how the surgery went for Cassel or if any timeline had been established for Cassel to begin rehabilitation from surgery.

Rudolph was scheduled to return to Minnesota and be in the team's facilities. Rudolph had surgery in Philadelphia after meeting with Dr. William Meyers. Zimmer didn't have any clarification on Rudolph's timeframe to return.

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