Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Typically, tearing both of your patellar tendons is a death sentence for any sort of athletic career. That, however, hasn’t dissuaded Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Greg Childs from pursuing his dreams of playing in the NFL.
A 2012 fourth-round pick out of Arkansas, Childs was seen as a dynamic pass-catcher during his collegiate career. The only problem was that he could never stay healthy long enough to fully put his talents on display.
Obviously, the whole health issue is still a factor for Childs, who watched what should have been a breakout rookie season in 2012 turn into a year of rehab. With his knees growing stronger, though, there’s a glimmer of hope that Childs could return in 2013 and give the Vikings another option out wide.
When in working order, Childs has the capability to be a difference-maker in the passing game. With the speed to stretch the field and the hands to pull in just about anything that comes his way, the former Razorback has the potential to be a quality NFL receiver. Childs had made quite the impression on Vikings coaches last offseason and appeared to be in the mix for playing time before injuring his knees while running routes during practice.
At this point, there is no set timetable for Childs’ return. The second-year receiver participated in the Vikings’ minicamp, running through drills, catching balls and continuing his rehab along the edges of practice. Although there’s still plenty of ground to gain before he’s back to full speed, seeing him out on the field was a positive sign for his future with the Vikings.
We’ll see soon enough if he’s cleared for training camp. If that’s the case, there’s plenty of reason to believe that Childs can make an impact for the Vikings. If not, he’ll have to wait around for his knees to regain strength and hope that his time will come sooner rather than later.
The Vikings took a big risk in spending a fourth-round pick on Childs. If the young receiver has it his way, he’ll be paying them back with production in the not-so-distant future.
Gil Alcaraz IV is a Content Planner/NFL Featured Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
