EAGAN, Minn. — Fuel up, @JJettas2.

Vikings superstar receiver Justin Jefferson is returning to practice this week, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announced before Monday's session.

"He will begin to take part in practice. It'll be kind of a ramp up," O'Connell said. "You'll see him take parts in bits and pieces of it here, but he will officially be back to work and be ramping up from here."

Jefferson has been sidelined since experiencing hamstring tightness on July 24.

The Vikings did not plan to play him in the preseason games. Instead, the focus will be readying the record setter for Minnesota's regular season. The Vikings visit the Bears in Week 1 game (Sept. 8) on Monday Night Football.

"He's kind of through this period of time where we let him get his football legs back underneath him," O'Connell said. "He's done such a good job with building his strength and doing the work with the medical team and the strength team that I think he probably feels like he's pretty darn close and ready to go.

"But we've got this time leading into three weeks from today," he continued, "so we've got a little bit of time now to kind of work him back in, continue to build his reps up here as we go, and it coincides with the schedule, with how we handle this week, being a pretty heavy week for that first group of guys that we can slowly integrate him back in, you'll see him doing some work with the group."

Jefferson participated in individual drills but not in 7-on-7 or team periods Monday. Still, it was taking steps in the right direction, as he glided down the field, turned in and glided across the gridiron with the football. After practice, Jefferson spoke to Twin Cities media members for about 10 minutes.

"It feels great to get back into the normal routine of being with the guys, being in the workouts, in practice and walk-throughs," Jefferson said. "I've been itching for it, so I'm just glad I'm feeling great again and back to being with the guys."

During the recovery process, Jefferson stayed engaged with the team during practices and games. He coached teammates in more ways than one. O'Connell had Jefferson relay a couple of play calls through a walkie talkie early in camp, and Jefferson gave tips to young receivers and collaborated with his new starting QB, J.J. McCarthy.

"If I'm not going to be in that role at that time, I'm going to be the one that's talking with him on the side to get what I'm thinking of, what he's thinking of, just so he can be on that same page," Jefferson said. "Because it's difficult to just sit here and talk and then go out there and be on the same page. It's not going to be the same.

"That repetition and getting those reps in is what really matters. But of course, I can't do that at this moment," Jefferson added. "So just talking to him and just kind of figuring out what he thinks and what he feels was the proper read, the proper move for that place. I feel like it was a great period to learn what he's thinking of and how he really transitions through the whole route."

The news occurs at a time when receiver Jalen Nailor is dealing with a hand injury. O'Connell classified Nailor's status as "week to week at this point" but will be able to maintain his conditioning and game shape while mending his hand.

In other injury news, O'Connell said the Vikings "avoided anything long term" with Joshua Metellus, who landed awkwardly at the end of Thursday's joint practice with the Patriots. O'Connell said Metellus will "work back in" during Monday's session.

"Working through some soreness, but he's going to be in a good spot," O'Connell said.

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