MAPLE GROVE, Minn. -- Back for a 10th season with the Minnesota Vikings after restructuring his 2015 contract this spring, Chad Greenway still appears to be a prominent piece of Mike Zimmer's defense at age 32. The coach called Greenway the best weak-side linebacker the Vikings have in a radio interview this spring, and Greenway has manned his familiar spot in the Vikings' first-team defense during organized team activities this spring.

Chad Greenway has played at weakside linebacker in the Vikings' first-team defense during OTAs. Cliff McBride/Getty Images

Yet, in other ways, Greenway can see the currents shifting with the Vikings' linebacker group. He could line up this season with a pair of players nine years his junior -- Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr -- and it's possible the two former UCLA teammates will be on the field in the Vikings' nickel defense while Greenway sits out on passing downs.

"I don't think you'd ever be open to that. I want to compete to win that job," Greenway said before teeing off at the Vikings Children's Fund Golf Tournament on Wednesday. "I know, when healthy, I'm capable of playing really well at that position, so I'm not ready to concede that. But at the same time, I'm ready to do what it takes to win. At this point in my career, that's what I'm going to do."

Greenway has been a three-down linebacker virtually every snap since 2007, playing at least 90 percent of the Vikings' defensive snaps from 2008-13 and staying on the field for 91.5 percent of them in 2014 when he was healthy. The linebacker missed four games last season, after breaking three ribs in Week 3 against New Orleans and straining his medial collateral ligament in his knee in Week 16. The Vikings, though, put Barr next to Greenway on passing downs last year, and took Kendricks in the second round this year largely because of his coverage skills.

In light of that, Greenway knows those players won't sit for long.

"There's some validity to [linebacker spots] being wide open, but at the same time, when you draft a guy in the second round, I think the writing's on the wall," Greenway said. "And you have a guy like Anthony, so is it open? Not really. But at the same point, with competition, for sure, there's more competition than we've ever had."

That competition could change Greenway's role for the first time in years, though he still seems to have the edge on Gerald Hodges for the starting spot on the weak side. The Vikings, who have worked Kendricks with the second-team defense so far in OTAs, could also decide to bring the rookie along slowly.

Greenway seems to be feeling refreshed after an injury-plagued season -- he played the New Orleans game with a broken bone in his hand, in addition to the broken ribs -- and sounded intent on keeping his regular role intact.

"I feel great. My body feels great," Greenway said. "That's why I say, when I get into training camp, I'm going to be ready to compete with anybody. I'm looking forward to that, and we'll see what happens."