Vikings wide receiver Greg Childs practiced this week for the first time since he tore the patellar tendons in both knees during training camp in 2012.

"Of course, long time coming, as a matter of fact," Childs said. "But, you know, things take time like this."

Childs remains on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, but the Vikings have 21 days (which started on Monday) to either activate, release or place Childs on injured reserve. The club has the option to make a decision before 21 days but the week the Vikings face the Eagles on Dec. 15 would be the latest Childs could be activated.

"I'm going to eventually get on the playing field," Childs said. "I don't know when. It could be by the end of the season or it could be the beginning of the next. But it's going to be one of the two."

The fourth-round selection out of Arkansas in the 2012 draft suffered the same injury in his right knee during his junior year in 2010. Childs said he never thought his career was over after suffering the same injury to both knees two years later.

"You can go back to y'all records," Childs said. "As soon as it happened I talked to coach Frazier and I was like, "I came back from this once.' I did both but I'm going to work hard and I'm going to get on the field. There was never a doubt that I was ever going to play again."