EAGAN, Minn. — The calendar has flipped from August to September — and from the preseason to Week 1 of the NFL's 2024 regular season.

Whether it was from obvious roster locks like Christian Darrisaw, a 2021 first-round pick who signed an extension through 2029 this offseason, or undrafted rookie cornerback Dwight McGlothern, Vikings players expressed excitement for the opportunity that awaits Sunday when Minnesota opens at the New York Giants at noon (CT).

"It's game week. It's finally here," Darrisaw said Monday. "All the buildup that led to it … to be here in September and the week coming up, the first one of the year, we're definitely excited to go out as a full team and show who we are this year.

"We've got to go do the work," Darrisaw added. "It's really not talking about it. It's about doing it, so we just have to put it on the film and show what we're about."

McGlothern made plentiful plays in preseason practices and games. He found out less than a week ago that he had made the cut, quickly texting his parents.

"Those were the first people I was talking to, because we had meetings and stuff during the day," McGlothern said. "But I texted them and told them I had made the team – that was a big experience, for sure. Everyone was proud of me, and it's a great feeling.

"It was just all excitement," McGlothern said. "We knew the journey was going to be long and tough, but I put myself in position to be on this team, and I made sure I took one day at a time, talked to my teammates and my family members and my coaches, and I just let everything all play out."

Veteran newcomers like Blake Cashman and Aaron Jones, Sr., are looking forward to making their Vikings debuts.

"Just finally getting to put all our work together and showcasing it not only for ourselves but for our fans and the league," Cashman said when asked the best part of reaching Week 1. "Nobody is really talking about the Minnesota Vikings, but a team that's focused and prepares well is a dangerous team, and [we have] a lot of pieces where we can be successful and have a great year, so I look at it as we have everything to gain and nothing to lose."

Cashman suffered a finger injury early in the first of two days of joint practices at Cleveland on Aug. 14. He finished the session but underwent a procedure to repair the damage of having his finger caught in a facemask during a 1-on-1 pass rush drill.

Now he's set for a reunion with fellow former Eden Prairie Eagles and Minnesota Gophers teammate Carter Coughlin.

"It will be my third time playing against him, so I'm really looking forward to that," Cashman said.

After seven seasons with the Packers, Jones is beginning a new chapter.

"I feel like the awareness is heightened," Jones said. "Everybody's a little more locked in. You know, camp is long, so I feel like toward the end of camp, it's monotonous, some of the guys are – not tired, but drained a little bit. And so now it's a fresh kick. Like, 'Hey, we've had a couple days off, and now we get to jumpstart; the real thing's here.' "

Vikings players had the weekend off and returned to practice Monday. The team will implement a Sunday-to-Sunday-game schedule the remainder of the week, which involves players having an off day on Tuesday and practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Versatile veteran Joshua Metellus, whose impact reached another level in 2023, is appreciative of playing in the same defensive system in consecutive seasons. After his first two seasons (2020-21), the Vikings changed defenses in 2022 and again in 2023.

"Excitement is through the roof. It's trying to make sure we calm down and then ramp it up to hit it at the right time because Sunday is a couple days away," Metellus said. "Everybody is juiced to go out there, put it all together and make plays. Personally, I'm really excited to build off what I did last year.

Metellus' excitement is widespread.

"I would say the best part [of reaching Week 1] is being able to go and watch the offense. We go against each other all offseason. It will be good to go and cheer them on," Metellus said. "Another big thing, playing with new guys, we've got a bunch of new guys who are part of this defense. I'm excited to go out there and play with them."