The Vikings will officially kick off their NFL preseason on Thursday night in Seattle. 

We've gotten through another long NFL season and will soon have many questions about this Vikings team answered. With the preseason now just three games, each contest is even more important for the rookies and guys on the fringe. 

Before we kick off the preseason, I wanted to identify the five players who are under the most pressure to perform from the jump.

K Greg Joseph

Joseph is locked in a neck-and-neck battle with UDFA Jack Podlesny. Per reports, Joseph will get the start on Thursday in Seattle before making way for Podlesny at some point. 

Joseph needs to take advantage of every opportunity on Thursday. With only three games, players who are locked in a tight battle can't afford poor performances in the preseason. If Joseph goes out and misses a kick or extra point tomorrow, Podlesny could take the job and run.

RB Kene Nwangwu

Nwangwu was shockingly listed as the top backup to starter Alexander Mattison. Much of the talk this offseason had been about Ty Chandler, but clearly Nwangwu has been doing something right. 

All of that could change with a bad opening performance, however. And Nwangwu is facing stiff competition at both RB and kick returner. Can Nwangwu hold on to his spot at both positions? Having a big game against the Seahawks could solidify Nwangwu's position. 

QB Nick Mullens

I’ve said all offseason that I believe both Mullens and rookie Jaren Hall make this roster. Mullens knows the system and is a solid backup, and Hall would assuredly be claimed if released. 

However, I think Mullens is under more pressure than Hall. If Mullens has a terrible performance in Seattle, Hall could end up winning the backup job. Hall will likely see the most action this preseason, so the rookie could leap Mullens if the latter struggles. Either way, Mullens will be on the team, but he might not be the primary backup. 

Mullens needs to look at this preseason as an audition. Kirk Cousins is a free agent after this season, so Mullens could set himself up for the future if he shows enough.

WR Jalen Reagor

Like Nwangwu, Reagor is hoping to fend off tough competition at two positions.

On the team's first unofficial depth chart, Reagor is listed as the No. 5 WR. The Vikings typically only keep five receivers, so Reagor will likely have to fend off the likes of Brandon Powell and Blake Proehl. Speaking of Powell, the veteran is also fighting Reagor for the starting punt returner job. 

Reagor is fighting not only for his Vikings' roster spot but his NFL career in general. The former first-rounder needs to start the preseason off strong and put all chatter to rest. 

CB Mekhi Blackmon

In the first unofficial depth chart, the starting corners for Minnesota are Byron Murphy Jr. and Akayleb Evans. While this depth chart is hardly gospel, it does give some insight into what the staff has seen thus far.

As a third-round rookie, it's not surprising that Blackmon isn't starting immediately. However, the Vikings' CB competition is wide-open and full of unproven youngsters. If Blackmon starts out strong against Seattle, he could give himself a leg-up over the other corners. If he starts out poorly, he could spend his first season as a depth piece who doesn't play much. 

The Vikings had one of the worst secondaries in the league in 2022. The team desperately needs someone to step up and become an above-average starter. Blackmon could be on the way to doing just that. 

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Featured image via © Brad Rempel | 2023 Aug 3