Coming up short of successfully wrapping up a magical 2015 season at Super Bowl 50 left the Carolina Panthers and their fans with an awful taste to deal with for the past six months. But Thursday night could serve as the refreshing dose of mouthwash they’ve all been waiting for.

The reigning NFC champions will kick off their 2016 preseason slate against the Baltimore Ravens today at 7:30 p.m. ET from M&T Bank Stadium. Although this exhibition will mark a new beginning to a new journey, Carolina’s goal, of course, remains the same.

So who should you keep your eyes on as the Panthers embark on their hopeful journey to the pinnacle? Here’s a start:

Wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin

Just as they’ve been waiting for the 2016 campaign to begin, Panthers fans have been salivating over the return of their team’s No. 1 wideout in Benjamin. That anticipation, obviously, comes for a very good reason.

Prior to sustaining a torn ACL in his left knee last Aug., the second-year pass catcher was, by many accounts, in line for a breakout season. Coach Ron Rivera had gone on record saying Benjamin, whose weight had previously helped bring on minor hamstring issues, entered 2015 training camp in “tremendous shape.”

A year and a full recovery later, Benjamin seems to have carried over that halted momentum into this summer. According to numerous camp spectators, the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder has been just fine throughout practices, consistently making plays while utilizing that monstrous and now healthy frame.

Even though his role will likely be very limited, Benjamin will see his first real action on Thursday for the first time since last year’s exhibition in Buffalo – one in which he hauled in an impressive touchdown grab. Don’t look for a handful of targets to come his way. Just look for Benjamin, as stated by Rivera, to regain the feel and pace of the game.

“It’s about introducing him back into the game first and foremost, but in the right situation and circumstances,” Rivera said in a report from the Charlotte Observer on Sunday. “The biggest thing about this is a grass field, which is outstanding for us. So having him out on the field, you feel pretty comfortable and confident.”

Defensive tackle Vernon Butler

Who doesn’t love to play with shiny new toys? For the Panthers, they’ll have a chance to do exactly that in Baltimore with the biggest addition to their already extensive toy chest.

Butler, Carolina’s first-round selection back in April, will carry 323 pounds of terror to an interior defensive line that already includes All-Pro Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, Paul Soliai and Kyle Love. Although he won’t spend his rookie year as a starter, the draft’s 30th-overall pick will be expected to contribute quite a bit alongside his fellow hog mollies.

Related Rookie Vernon Butler showing quick progression in training camp

A four-year player out of Louisiana Tech University, Butler brings a potent mixture of agility, versatility and power defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will absolutely love in his deep interior rotation. NFL draft expert Mike Mayock, in fact, compared him to other two light-footed big men in Minnesota’s Linval Joseph and Los Angeles’ Michael Brockers.

Expect to see Butler pick up a decent number of reps throughout the night as he tries to make a positive first impression.

The Three Amigos

In this three-for-one special, rookie cornerbacks James Bradberry, Daryl Worley and Zack Sanchez join Butler in seeing their first NFL downs. But unlike Butler, at least one of these three will likely be in the team’s starting lineup come Week 1.

Before holding their annual Fan Fest event at Bank of America Stadium last Friday, the Panthers released their first depth chart of 2016. Listed as the No. 1 and No. 2 corners in the release were Bradberry and Worley.

Related Panthers heavily hinting at rookie CB tandem starting

Now, this is an unofficial pecking order and is one that is far from finalized. When you consider the play of the team’s second and third-rounders in training camp thus far, their names might be written in pen on those exact spots very soon.

With Bradberry and Worley taking the starting nods against the Ravens in this one, watch for Sanchez as he continues his transition into a slot defender. Sanchez, who was a very good playmaker in his own right at the collegiate level, primarily played the outside for the University of Oklahoma. Can he prove to be a viable backup to Bené Benwikere in nickel packages?