EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings are set to visit the Seahawks to open the preseason for both teams in Seattle.
Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. (CT).
Here are all the ways to catch the action, followed by three things the Vikings.com editorial staff will be watching for during the game.
SIMULCAST TV AND RADIO
KMSP FOX 9 in the Twin Cities
Check local listings in Duluth, Rochester and Mankato; Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Des Moines, Iowa; La Crosse, Wisconsin
KFAN (100.3-FM), KTLK 1130-AM and the five-state Vikings Radio Network
Kickoff: 9 p.m. (CT)
Play-by-Play: Paul Allen
Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline reporter: Ben Leber
Note: The pregame radio show on the Vikings Radio Network will begin at 8 p.m. (CT).
NFL NETWORK
National Cable Television
The game will air live on NFL Network.
Play-by-Play: Kate Scott
Analyst: Michael Robinson
SPANISH RADIO
Catch the Vikings on Tico Sports at WREY "El Rey" 94.9 FM and 630 AM in the Twin Cities and on Tico-Sports.com, elrey949fm.com and Vikings.com.
STREAMING OPTIONS
Within the Twin Cities market, as well as designated international markets in the United Kingdom and Canada, viewers can stream the game live on the Vikings app or on Vikings.com.
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
Click here for the full bevy of options that include over-the-air, cable, satellite, over-the-top and streaming methods.
NFL+ AND NFL+ PREMIUM
Start your free trial of NFL+ today to watch Vikings preseason games live or on-demand.
NFL+ and NFL+ Premium provide all the action when you are on the go. It is available in the NFL app and at NFL.com/plus.
NFL+ is available for $4.99/month or $39.99/year and offers the following:
· Live out-of-market preseason games across devices
· Live local and prime-time regular-season and postseason games on your phone or tablet
· Live game audio (home, away & national calls) for every game of the season
· NFL Films' on-demand content, ad-free
NFL+ Premium is available for $9.99/month or $79.99/year and offers all of the NFL+ features and the following:
· Full-game replays across devices (ad-free)
· Condensed game replays across devices (ad-free)
· Coaches film (ad-free)
THREE THINGS WE'LL BE WATCHING
Backup QB comparisons | By Ellis Williams
Kirk Cousins is not expected to play in Minnesota's first preseason game on Thursday at Seattle. But backup Nick Mullens and rookie Jaren Hall should see plenty of reps against the Seahawks.
Mullens, acquired via trade last August after facing the Vikings in Minnesota's 2022 preseason opener at Las Vegas, did not play in a Vikings preseason game last season. Hall was selected in the fifth round this offseason and will make his NFL debut.
Mullens has done most of the work with the second-team offense, but Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips are eager to see how Hall handles game situations, too. During Tuesday night's practice at TCO Stadium, Hall made a key scramble during a 2-minute drill. Hall stepped up in the pocket, avoided a rushing defensive end, and picked up a first-down rush of about 12 yards.
Tuesday's session ended with Hall and a group of young receivers reviewing red-zone route combinations with O'Connell and Phillips during a walk-through period.
"You've gotta get the operation going. You've gotta lead the team, run the offense," Phillips said of his preseason hopes for Hall. "One part of that is the operation; the other part is just executing one play at a time. There's gonna be bad plays in there, but can he bounce back and show us that it doesn't faze him?"
Young corners in action | By Lindsey Young
Minnesota's first preseason game will give ample opportunity for young players to make a statement, and I'm especially looking forward to watching the cornerbacks group.
For much of camp, Byron Murphy, Jr., and Akayleb Evans have been in with the first team, and Joejuan Williams has moved into that group on three-corner looks. Though we don't know exactly who O'Connell will opt to start in Seattle, it's unlikely that starters at any position will take a ton of snaps in a preseason contest. So then, which CBs will step up and leave an impression Thursday night?
Andrew Booth, Jr., returned to practice Monday after being a bit dinged up, so it will be interesting to see if he gets an opportunity against the Seahawks. Booth played six games last season as a rookie, making one start, but missed time due to injury and has mostly been practicing with the second team defense this summer.
Mekhi Blackmon, whom Minnesota drafted 102nd overall this spring, has made some nice plays throughout camp, and he'll be able to make his NFL debut Thursday. Will he shine under the bright lights? Another name I'm paying attention to is NaJee Thompson, a 2023 undrafted rookie who's also shown a few glimpses and could be involved on special teams.
Thompson was all smiles following the Vikings second night practice Tuesday, staying around after the team broke huddle to sign miniature footballs and throw them into the crowd.
Finally getting their first shot | By Craig Peters
Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels will be working with a wide swath of the roster, and many of the players he'll be leading will be hitting an NFL field for the first time.
"I'm so excited to watch these players get ready to go to work, to fulfill a childhood dream and put on an NFL uniform, again, get the opportunity to compete," Daniels said to open his media session Tuesday. "There's a transition, we talked about it from shorts to pads and how certain guys started to look and start to stand out. There's also a transition from practice to the game. And when the big, bright lights come on. And I'm excited to see what guys start to show up in the game in the heat of the moment, when you're under pressure."
The opportunity to take an NFL field, even in an exhibition, has been a long time in the making. There's a good bit of speculation that Ivan Pace, Jr., an undrafted rookie this spring, will stand out. Viewed by some as too short to make it at this level, I'm quite curious to see him when the popcorn is popping.
But I'm most interested in seeing Blake Proehl appear in an NFL game for the first time. The 2021 undrafted free agent suffered a knee injury before Minnesota's preseason opener. He was still rehabbing this time a year ago, but he grinded his way back and helped the 2022 team as a member of the practice squad. That's a long time coming for Proehl, who has made multiple plays on his opportunities at camp.
