MANKATO, Minn. (WCCO) — The Minnesota Vikings are nearing the end of the first week of practice and one of the players to keep your eye on is cornerback Cedric Griffin.

The sixth-year player has had his share of injury problems over the past two seasons, but Griffin is well on the way to his road to a complete recovery.

He’s coming back from injury again, and Griffin is hoping the pain is behind him. He is part of a group of cornerbacks that need to hold up a defensive line filled with questions.

“I’m doing fine now, my health is good and my knees are good,” Griffin said. “I’m just glad to be back out here and working with my teammates. But I’m still doing some strength and conditioning right now, but I’m doing well.”

That’s why training camp is critical this season: To get back to a place where he feels good after suffering a couple major knee injuries. Feeling good again will create confidence at a position where the Vikings need improved play: In the defensive backfield.

“Cedric is back and he’s working his way back in, trying to get his legs back underneath him,” said safety Tyrell Johnson. “He’s looking real good.”

What Griffin expects of himself is that he can play at a high level again. There shouldn’t be any drop off, the injuries are behind him and he believes he should be good to go in 2011.

And that’s what he wants, to get back to doing what he’s done without questions on health and put a focus on the future.

“I’m a hard worker, man I’m a competitor. There’s no slowing me down,” Griffin said. “I feel great, so we’ll see what happens out there. I’m a right corner, that’s what I do. We’re all trying different positions and we’re all going out there hard. We’re doing a great job doing it too.”