The Minnesota Vikings will make their preseason debut on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Las Vegas Raiders. It will likely be the debut for rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy in a Vikings uniform.

As we head into the first preseason game, there are multiple different elements to look ahead to on both sides of the football. What are the biggest storylines to watch for when the Vikings take the field for the first time in the 2024 season?

Minnesota Vikings preseason storylines vs. Las Vegas Raiders

The debut of J.J. McCarthy

This is the one everyone wants to see. Right now, McCarthy is wowing fans at training camp with some impressive throws down the field and making some wow plays with his legs extending plays. Is he ready right now? I wouldn't go that far but he's been impressive nonetheless.

There isn't a guarantee that McCarthy will play, but it is trending that way for the Vikings. Seeing growth from McCarthy is the most important thing right now, as the process is the progress.

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Cornerback depth

How the cornerback room shapes out will continue to be a storyline for the Vikings. The "unofficial" depth chart has the cornerbacks listed as follows:

First string: Shaq Griffin and Byron Murphy Jr.
Second string: Akayleb Evans and Fabian Moreau
Third string: Andrew Booth Jr., A.J. Green III and Jacobi Francis
Fourth string: Jaylin Williams, Duke Shelley, Dwight McGlothern and NaJee Thompson

What's really interesting about this group is the lack of Jay Ward who has been playing cornerback for the Vikings but is listed at safety. Booth is at third string but multiple fourth string corners have been getting reps over him. There is still talent in the cornerback room but it's not the sexiest position group on the Vikings. How they perform during the preseason will tell us a lot about both the future and the 2024 season.

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How does wide receiver shape up

The wide receiver position is in a very interesting spot. Right now, WR3 is up for grabs with the most likely options being Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell. The loser of that competition is going to be WR4 but the depth behind them is fascinating.

After that, the depth at the position is fascinating. Trishton Jackson and Trent Sherfield are the odds on favorites to make the roster, but an emerging player in UDFA Jeshaun Jones jumped the likes of Lucky Jackson and Thayer Thomas to make the third team. Performances in the preseason will separate this group.

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The enigma of Levi Drake Rodriguez

Labeled as Prospect X by Kalyn Kahler, Rodriguez has made a major impression during training camp so far. His motor runs incredibly hot and it doesn't stop even after practice is done. Rodriguez's performance has led to him getting reps with the first team during practice.

How will that manifest itself in the preseason? That is an intriguing question and one that fans will spend a lot of time trying to answer. Rodriguez has become a fan favorite over the last few months and his impact on the field will get a lot of fanfare.

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Debut of the kick return

We got our first glimpse of the kick return during last Friday's practice and it was focused on Kene Nwangwu. A former second-team All-Pro as a kick returner, Nwangwu looks to be the focus of the new style of kick return.

Will he end up being the best option for the Vikings? It appears to be more of a wide zone style play and Nwangwu hasn't shown a propensity to play the position at a high level. It could open the door for others to get a shot at the job, including the likes of Ty Chandler.

J.J. McCarthy is the Minnesota Vikings’ future, but is he ready to be quarterback of the present?

J.J. McCarthy is getting a lot of hype from Minnesota Vikings fans and analysts, but is he ready to be the guy?