After a rough first drive in Cincinnati last Friday, the Vikings first-team offense went on to score the game’s first touchdown after a 96-yard drive. The team will obviously be hoping for a better start when they head to Seattle this Thursday to play the Seahawks in their second preseason game of 2016.

Going against a team like the Seahawks, who are known for consistently having a tough defense, should be a good test for this young Vikings offense. For Thursday, expect Minnesota’s starters to play at least two series and possibly three depending on how the first two turn out.

Here is who to keep an eye on when the Vikings offense takes the field in Seattle.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR

After all of the praise he was receiving from Minnesota’s coaches and players this offseason, Patterson did not see a snap on the field in Cincinnati last Friday. His absence was likely due to the shoulder injury he suffered on the first day of Vikings training camp a few weeks ago.

Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer did say after Monday’s practice that Patterson should, “have a chance to play,” on Thursday against the Seahawks. He definitely needs to play in Seattle as he cannot afford to miss anymore preseason games if he wants to have a role in this offense for the regular season.

C.J. Ham, RB

The native of Duluth, MN scored a touchdown in his debut on Friday night against the Bengals. However, Ham should not take too much time to celebrate as he still has plenty of work to do if he wants to make Minnesota’s final 53-man roster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37sbQFWz98

Although his 10-yard touchdown run was nice, Ham only averaged 2.3 yards per carry on his other 11 rushing attempts. That number has to improve if he wants to play for the Vikings during the regular season.

Matt Kalil, LT

Kalil’s play on the offensive line has been criticized throughout the entirety of his career. Now that he is playing in the last year of his contract this season, Kalil has to prove to Minnesota that he belongs with this team after 2016.

He played pretty well against Cincinnati during his time on the field. Facing a pass rush like Seattle’s should be a good test to gage if Kalil has improved from a season ago.

Joel Stave, QB

Stave’s only chance to make the Vikings regular season roster is to beat out fellow quarterback Shaun Hill to be the backup to Teddy Bridgewater. With quarterback Taylor Heinicke out with an injury, it is unlikely that Minnesota will keep three quarterbacks on their active roster to start the regular season.

Although he threw an interception against the Bengals (that was not entirely his fault), Stave still made plenty of plays to think he can take Hills’ spot on the team. He will need a big game against the Seahawks on Thursday for the Vikings coaches to even begin to consider keeping him over Hill.

T.J. Clemmings/Andre Smith, OTs

To state this as nicely as possible, Smith had a horrible debut in a Minnesota uniform against Cincinnati. Much of the pressure Bridgewater received during the team’s first series last Friday was a result of Smith’s lack of blocking.

Dunlap just gets the best of Andre Smith here. https://t.co/cnk8Qqhe4M — Vikings Corner (@VikingsCorner) August 13, 2016

Clemmings and Smith have been competing for the starting right tackle spot all offseason. The job seemed to be in Smith’s hands until the game against the Bengals.

Now the Vikings are seeing if they need to make a switch before the season begins.