5 things to watch for in Vikings vs. Raiders preseason game

The Minnesota Vikings will open the preseason against the Las Vegas Raiders at 3 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It will be the first of three games in what should be an intriguing preseason slate for Minnesota with young players and competition dominating the highlights.

With the roster as unpredictable as it is, it’s hard to know what to expect. So here are five things you can count on when the Vikings open the preseason, courtesy of Chris Schad.

1. J.J. McCarthy’s unofficial debut

The Vikings have shielded McCarthy, who was the youngest quarterback taken in April’s NFL Draft and the highest-selected quarterback in franchise history, throughout minicamp and OTAs. But on Saturday, McCarthy will be thrown into the deep end as he gets his first taste of game action.

OK, so it’s not really going to be what McCarthy can expect in the NFL. The Raiders won’t be going as hard as they would in a regular-season game and McCarthy even told reporters that he was excited to see a “vanilla” defense after weeks of squaring off against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. But this will be the first real exposure of McCarthy as Kevin O’Connell told reporters the rookie will see a lot of playing time.

“Nothing can quite simulate real play clocks, real repercussions for things like maybe you don’t do your job and it affects others or vice versa,” O’Connell said. “I think it’s just a really good way of seeing exactly where you’re at.”

2. Sam Darnold’s dress rehearsal

While McCarthy has gotten the buzz and the training camp videos, Darnold remains Minnesota’s starter. He’s had a solid if not spectacular camp and has taken all of the first-team reps, putting him on track to start the Sept. 8 season opener against the New York Giants.

While fans may be more interested in McCarthy’s performance, it would still be nice if Darnold played well on Saturday. His poise and composure will be one focal point after failed stints as a starter with the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets and his execution of the offense will be key as other quarterbacks have needed time to become comfortable with it.

Darnold has a big opportunity to quiet some of his doubters and buy time for McCarthy’s development and it begins with a strong performance against the Raiders.

3. A new kickoff format

You may have already seen this if you watched the Hall of Fame Game or some of the other preseason action but the NFL is implementing a new kickoff rule that increases action while maintaining a level of safety for the players.

The kicking team is lined up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line while the receiving team will have a five-yard “setup zone” (their own 30-to-35 yard line) where at least nine players must stand. Kickers also have a “landing zone” inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and touchbacks have been increased from 25 to 30 yards.

If your head is spinning, here’s an example of what the new kickoff will look like.

4. A battle royale at cornerback

No position has been hit harder by injuries during training camp than the cornerback position and it sets up a golden opportunity for someone to separate from the pack. Mekhi Blackmon is out for the year after suffering a torn ACL during the first practice of camp and Shaquill Griffin is still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered two days later.

It’s led to a variety of new faces including free agent signing Fabian Moreau and Nahshon Wright, who was acquired in a trade with the Cowboys for Andrew Booth Jr. on Friday . But the Vikings have incumbents that could forge a role including undrafted free agent Dwight McGlothern, who has mixed in with the first team during camp.

Outside of Griffin and Byron Murphy Jr., who will start in the slot for Minnesota, the competition at cornerback is wide open, creating a compelling storyline that will play out in the preseason.

5. A proving ground for young players

If you’re watching the preseason to see Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones and a lot of the household names, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you want to see some of the names who could create a youth movement, you’re in the right place.

It’s unknown who and how much players will play in Saturday’s opener but there are some intriguing rookies to keep an eye on. First-round pick Dallas Turner could see the field in Sunday’s game and his pass-rushing chops could be on display even if Flores doesn’t break out his full bag of tricks against the Raiders.

Wide receiver Jalen Nailor is having a tremendous camp and could show out at receiver while several late-round and UDFA prospects could also pop on Saturday. Some names to keep an eye on include defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez, and UDFA edge rushers Owen Porter and Gabriel Murphy.

(Editor’s note: Murphy is dealing with an undisclosed injury and has not practiced the last few days, which could leave him on the sideline in the opener.)

With McCarthy’s debut drawing headlines, this could be the most anticipated Vikings preseason game in nearly a decade and could give fans a glimpse of what to expect in 2024.