Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was among those who had a smile on his face when Griffen returned to Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on Wednesday morning.

"It's outstanding to see him back here. I think our focus is on Everson the person," Cousins said. "Obviously he's a great football player, but having Everson the person back in the locker room is a great thing to see."

Added Vikings safety Harrison Smith: "It's obviously great – not only in the locker room but also on the field. Just happy he's back, and it's good. Everything we're doing is in the best interest of him. He's back now, and we're excited to have him back as a friend of his, as a teammate for a long time. Not only what he does on the field but just his presence around here and having a friend back, having a teammate back."

Vikings defensive end Stephen Weatherly is locker mates with Griffen at the team facility. Weatherly, who has started five games in Griffen's absence, said the entire team received a boost Wednesday with Griffen in the building.

"To have him back is a big deal," Weatherly said. "Obviously we know about the statistics, he's a hell of a player and has proven himself year-in and year-out.

"But also, most people don't know about the emotional capacity in which he leads the team with," Weatherly said. "He brings energy and a fire, and I'm excited to have him back."

Weatherly noted that he and Griffen had a lively chat when they caught up in Minnesota's locker room.

"We got right back in the groove of things, and he was asking me how I've been doing. That's a big deal for him … him asking me every day before he left," Weatherly said. "It was like clockwork … we came in after meetings and right before walkthrough, and he was like, 'So what's new with you man?'

"It was like he never skipped a beat, and that means a lot," Weatherly added. "We exchanged a couple words and went out on the field and got to it. It means a lot."

Griffen, who has been selected to three straight Pro Bowls, has 62 career sacks.