Could linebacker Gerald Hodges return to the Vikings?

The free agent wrote in a text message to the Pioneer Press on Monday he has interest in going back to the team that traded him to San Francisco in October 2015.

“Yes,” Hodges wrote. “Definitely wouldn’t mind playing for them! Great organization!!”

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Vikings’ Harrison Smith, Kyle Rudolph: long-time teammates and best friends It’s unclear what the Vikings’ interest level is in bringing back Hodges, and he did not comment on whether his representatives have heard from them.

This much is sure: Minnesota could use some help at linebacker following the retirement of Chad Greenway, a starter on the outside, and departure of reserve Audie Cole, who signed as a free agent with Jacksonville. Hodges retweeted a Greenway tweet from the day he was traded.

Greenway’s Oct. 6, 2015 tweet read, “Surprised would be an understatement. I guess good luck (Hodges), but you will be missed.” In the retweet, Hodges wrote, “Always been respected.”

Hodges began 2015 as Minnesota’s starter at middle linebacker before being traded four games into the season to the 49ers for a sixth-round draft pick and center Nick Easton. The move cleared the way for then-rookie Eric Kendricks to start in the middle, and he led the team in tackles that season.

Kendricks remains a starter for the Vikings, along with outside linebacker Anthony Barr. Hodges was been an outside linebacker before being moved in 2015 by the Vikings to the middle. He started the final four games of 2014 on the outside in place of an injured Barr.

Hodges had the best season of his career in 2016. He started 12 of the 15 games he played for the 49ers and had 80 tackles, including three sacks.

Hodges, 26, was taken in the fourth round of the 2013 draft by Minnesota and started 10 of the 29 games he played. Since free agency began March 9, Hodges has visited one team, the Kansas City Chiefs.

BRIEFLY

The Vikings announced two number changes for 2017. Guard Alex Boone switches from No. 76 to 75 and cornerback Jabari Price from No. 25 to 24. Boone had worn No. 75 for San Francisco from 2010-15 but Matt Kalil had that number for the Vikings before signing as a free agent with Carolina. Price takes over the number cornerback Captain Munnerlyn had been wearing before he also joined the Panthers, and recently signed running back Latavius Murray gets No. 25.