After missing a significant amount of time because of a stress fracture in his foot, Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Corey Peters returned to practice on Monday. Peters suffered the injury during the offseason and missed the team's offseason minicamp as well as training camp.

Peters is happy to be back on a football field. "I'm excited about it. It's been since January since I've been able to play. I'm really excited about it. It's just like a kid in the candy store," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

While the third-year pro hasn't been able to contribute in 2012, he was a regular starter for the Falcons in 2010 and 2011. He has 46 career tackles, including four sacks.

Peters still has to work his way back into football shape, but the Falcons have some time to make a decision -- they have three weeks to either activate him or place him on injured reserve. When asked, Peters said he wasn't sure how long it would take him to get reacclimated.