EAGAN, Minn. — Christian Darrisaw has steadily worked his way back to the football field, and his post-practice smile Friday said it all.

The Vikings left tackle suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 8 last year but has successfully progressed through rehab, then slowly reintegrated into individual drills, then this week took some full-team reps.

Darrisaw said it feels natural being back on the grass doing what he does best.

"I feel like it's instilled in me. This is what I've been doing my whole life, playing football," he told media members. "Being away from the game, knowing that things aren't over yet, there's a lot of football still left, and just fighting through that — my teammates, myself, my family, and God just leading the way.

"Truly trusting the trainers and everything they were telling me to do has led me to this moment," Darrisaw added. "And it's really a blessing to be here now. Being able to put on these pads and be back out there on the field."

He did a couple series' worth of work Friday, with Walter Rouse and Justin Skule each rotating in for him.

Though coaches are intentionally being careful with how much they ask of Darrisaw early on, he noted his body has responded extremely well to the ramping up.

Darrisaw explained he's spent time talking with teammates like T.J. Hockenson and Jonathan Allen, who have recovered from knee injuries and surgeries before, about getting through the process. Both told him it's key to "trust the knee."

"You kind of question yourself a little bit," Darrisaw admitted, "but going out there against guys like that, you can't have any hesitation.

"I trust it, and everything's been feeling good," he added. "Everything's been trending in the right direction."

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell was asked about seeing Darrisaw and right guard Will Fries, who worked his way back from a broken leg suffered with the Colts last season, in the lineup together.

O'Connell called it "awesome," saying he'd spent time during Thursday's off day reviewing film and enjoyed seeing the full line all together for the first time.

"When there was a lot of really good tape to watch, I always like going back through it all … and I'm kind of buzzing through, and then all of a sudden — bam! — There was 76 at right guard and 71 at left tackle," O'Connell said. "Wasn't a whole lot of snaps quite yet, but it was certainly great to see those guys out there.

"Now it's a matter of conditioning for both Will and Christian, mixed in with getting their technique and fundamentals dialed in at that position," he continued. "And it's going to be a great challenge and a real runway for them to feel like they're game-ready based upon what they're practicing against on the other side of the ball every day."

Darrisaw is grateful for the opportunity to practice against Brian Flores' defense, which has given the offense plenty of challenges throughout camp.

There are a few wrinkles the offense wants to work out, Darrisaw said, but certainly nothing to panic over.

"We're just trying to come out here each day and get better at the little things and working our way to that first game of the season," he said. "We don't have a lot of time, but we've got time to figure things out. And there's some things that we need to figure out as a unit just to be the offense that we know that we're capable of being.

"We just take it a day at a time. Everything's not gonna be perfect, especially going against the defense like B-Flo's, man; you're not gonna see that every Sunday," he added, smiling. "So it's great to go against that, and it's fun just to be out here on this field. Just competing and getting better. That's what we've got to do every day."

Not to mention, getting to be back in the trenches moving defensive linemen out of the way.

"Oh man, it feels great. I haven't done that since October," Darrisaw grinned. "Just being able to be out here with my teammates and playing a game that I love, getting to go against a defense full-speed and getting my feet back under me, man, everything's been feeling really good."

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