Vikings CB Shaq Griffin returns to training after long injury break

Vikings cornerback Shaq Griffin suffered a hamstring injury on July 25, the second day of training camp. After missing about three and a half weeks, the veteran and projected starter returned to practice on Monday. He will improve his performance over the course of this final week of training camp and expects to be fit for the season opener on September 8.

“It feels too good (to be back on the field),” Griffin said Darren Wolfson of KSTP after practice on Monday. “I know my teammates knew how excited I was. The first game, I got tackled by Jettas (Justin Jefferson), and they told me, 'Slow down, slow down, take your time!'” They know I'm overly excited. It just feels good to be back with the guys and running around.”

Is he back to 100 percent? Not yet. But there are still almost three weeks until the start, and Griffin has time to take it easy and get fully healthy again.

“If you ask me, I'll say that (I'm 100 percent sure),” Griffin said with a smile. “But you know, the guys in the training room are doing a good job of making sure I'm patient and taking my time with everything. When they come back, they're not just throwing me into the ground to make sure I play every single game, they're slowly getting me into the pace that I need to be able to hit the ground running next week.”

Griffin said he started running more last week in Cleveland and this week will be about catching his breath and getting his legs under control. He believes he will be at 100 percent by the first week of regular-season practice when September begins.

Barring injuries, Griffin – who the Vikings signed for one year and $4.5 million in the offseason – should play a big role this year. He is one of the team's three best cornerbacks, along with Byron Murphy Jr. and newcomer Stephon Gilmore. With seven years of experience and a Pro Bowl appearance, Griffin should be an important part of Brian Flores' secondary in 2024.

Related: What the signing of Stephon Gilmore means for the Vikings cornerback team