Vikings tackle Brian O'Neill is back protecting Kirk Cousins at training camp

Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill said his rehab for a partially torn Achilles was “the hardest one I’ve done.”For the first time since Jan. 1, Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill aligned across from an opponent and denied access to quarterback Kirk Cousins during Wednesday's joint practice with the Cardinals.

O'Neill is nearly nine months removed from a partial tear of his right Achilles — called an avulsion fracture — but that wasn't on his mind during his first full workload of the summer.

"It was really fun. It felt great," O'Neill told the Star Tribune. "I didn't think about my leg one time. [This] was a huge step. I'm really happy with how it went. Physically, I got to go check out how…