The last time Chad Greenway missed a regular-season game was Dec. 31, 2006.

That will change Sunday. The Vikings linebacker on Friday was ruled out of this week’s game against Atlanta at TCF Bank Stadium because of a broken hand and a broken rib.

“It’s been awhile,” Greenway said about having to watch from the sidelines. “It will be difficult. The whole thing is definitely not how you draw it up.”

Since missing the entire 2006 season as a rookie after suffering a torn ACL in the preseason, Greenway has played in 115 straight games. He has made 90 straight starts, the longest of any active NFL linebacker.

Had he not gotten hurt, Greenway’s overall streak would have moved him to first among all linebackers. Detroit’s Stephen Tulloch had played in 131 in a row, but his season was ended by a torn ACL suffered Sunday.

“It’s one of those things: When it comes to the weekend and it’s time to play, you go play,” Greenway said of his streaks ending. “But nothing is going to be forever.”

Greenway will be replaced by second-year man Gerald Hodges, who will make his first career start.

“No nervousness,” Hodges said. “I’ve played football all my life, and this is an opportunity. But I’m not going to say I’m not excited.”

Greenway was hurt Sept. 14 against New England but stayed in the game. He tried to play through his injuries Sunday at New Orleans but struggled before being taken out in the fourth quarter.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he made a mistake by playing Greenway against the Saints, so it was no surprise Greenway was ruled out after not having practiced all week.

“He just had a hard time taking people on,” Zimmer said of Greenway’s play at New Orleans.

Zimmer called Greenway a “tough guy.” Defensive end Brian Robison went further, calling his teammate “one of the toughest son of a guns I know.”

Greenway’s injury means the Vikings will enter Sunday without five key starters from the start of the season.

unning back Adrian Peterson is out after being put on the NFL’s exempt list following a Sept. 12 indictment in Texas on a felony charge of child abuse. Tight end Kyle Rudolph (groin surgery) is sidelined until at least November. Quarterback Matt Cassel (broken foot) and guard Brandon Fusco (torn pectoral muscle) were placed this week on season-ending injury reserve this week.

Zimmer said Cassel had surgery Friday, but he had not heard yet how it went.

Cornerback Josh Robinson (hamstring) is listed on the injury report as questionable, but Zimmer said he’s not concerned about his status.

After facing the Falcons, the Vikings have a short week before playing at Green Bay next Thursday. Zimmer declined to speculate on whether that might be enough time for Greenway to return to action.

At least Greenway did get some good news during the week. His wife, Jennifer Capista, gave birth Tuesday to the couple’s third child, a girl. Greenway said she was named Blakely after a town in Minnesota.

“Everybody is healthy and happy,” he said of the birth.

Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.