Taylor Heinicke said he'll take his first step this week toward returning to the Vikings active roster.

Heinicke, the Vikings' second-year quarterback, has been told he'll return to practice on Wednesday. Heinicke has been on the non-football injury list since July, when a glass door pane severed two tendons in his foot while he was trying to help a friend locked out of his Atlanta apartment.

He's been out of the walking boot for a few weeks and feels healthy, opening up the possibility the Vikings once again carry three quarterbacks on the roster. As soon as he practices, the team has 21 days to decide whether to elevate him to the active roster. If they don't, he'll remain on NFI the rest of the season.

"Just sitting ever since training camp until now, it's hard on a guy that's competitive," Heinicke said Monday. "I've been trying to take some positives out of it. I felt I've gotten mentally better and hopefully that relates to the field in the next couple weeks."

The Vikings could use the depth at quarterback with Sam Bradford flanked by veteran Shaun Hill, who is 36 years old in his 15th season. Bradford was hit eight times against the Texans last week playing behind a patchwork offensive line featuring three opening-day replacements.

Heinicke, 23, could've competed with Hill for the Vikings' backup job this offseason prior to the injury. He initially made the team after a strong 2015 preseason as an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion.

After relearning how to take snaps under center, something Heinicke said he hadn't done since high school, his foot injury provided another unfamiliar trial.

"I've never missed a practice or game my entire life. It was a shocker," Heinicke said.