Vikings notes: Childs returns to practice

Greg Childs said he was asked the same question by his teammates in the locker room Wednesday.

"As soon as I came into the door today, they were like, 'You practicing today?' " the second-year wide receiver said.

He was finally able to respond with "Yes." Childs practiced for the first time since tearing the patellar tendons in both knees doing training camp in 2012.

"I'm just not built to where I'm just going to fall into what everybody else thinks — 'Oh, he got hurt. This type of injury he had, there's no way he can come back. His career has to be done,' " Childs said. "But since I was smaller, my dad always instilled in me, 'If you want it, go get it. Don't let anybody else deter you.' "

Childs remains on the physically unable to perform list, but the Vikings have three weeks to activate, release or place him on injured reserve.

"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.

"As soon as it happened, I talked to Coach [Leslie] Frazier and I was like, 'I came back from this once,' " Childs said. "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."

In the air

Josh Robinson hasn't heard whether he'll be placed on injured reserve for a fractured sternum, but the second-year cornerback plans on rehabbing as if he will play again this season.

"It's really not in my control," Robinson said. "It's whatever they decide, but I'm going to do it. I don't really have a choice, but we all enjoy playing this game. It's not different for me. If I get to come back and play another two-or-so games, then I'll play."

The injury bothered Robinson over the past few weeks before he left Sunday's game against the Seahawks. He said he received CT scans and other additional tests that showed it wasn't a serious injury.

"It was at the point [on Sunday] where I felt like I couldn't run anymore and heavy breathing was painful," Robinson said. "It was really like, 'OK, I can't help this defense.' So there's no point in me trying to push through it."

Welcome home?

Packers linebacker Clay Matthews chuckled when asked about the reception ex-Packer and current Vikings receiver Greg Jennings will receive Sunday at Lambeau Field.

"Greg did a bunch of great things here and that will be overshadowed by the fact that he's playing for the rival for the time being," Matthews said.

Brett Favre experienced the same situation when he returned to Lambeau Field wearing purple on Nov. 1, 2009. Favre was booed by Packers fans in the Vikings' 38-26 victory.

Like Favre, Matthews said the fans will come to appreciate Jennings' time with the Packers down the road.

"I think everyone here is thankful for the time and work, all his accomplishments on the field, including winning a Super Bowl," Matthews said. "But it's kind of 'on to the next man,' and we've got a new group of receivers we're working with."

Jennings didn't practice Wednesday because of an Achilles' tendon injury.

Etc.

• Center John Sullivan did not practice because he didn't pass the NFL protocol for concussion- related injuries. Frazier said Sullivan could participate in some role Thursday if he passes the test before practice.