Rookie quarterback Haynes King rushed for a five-yard touchdown on the final play to lift the Carolina Panthers to a 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, kicking off the NFL preseason on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
Undrafted out of Georgia Tech after earning Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors last season, King seized his opportunity when he entered the Panthers’ preseason opener with 9:38 remaining in the first half. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns while adding 39 rushing yards on three carries, capped by his game-winning scamper.
Haynes King Sparks Carolina Comeback After Early Deficit
The Panthers fell behind 14-7 before King replaced veteran Kenny Pickett.
After Arizona reclaimed a 30-27 lead on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Kedon Slovis to Bryson Green with 1:55 left on the clock, King engineered the decisive two-minute drill. A critical 26-yard run on third-and-14 kept the final drive alive, paving the way for his 5-yard dash into the end zone as time expired.
“Well, that was a lot of fun. Just the back and forth of it. Just a really good game. The guys were resilient and finish is what we preach as a team. We practice for these situations, end of half, end of game. … Haynes did a fantastic job, just keeping the play alive, doing whatever he had to do, run it, throw it. Really proud of the group.”
Dave Canales, Panthers coach, via Associated Press
King is currently projected as Carolina’s third-string quarterback behind Young and Pickett.
Carson Beck and Arizona Reserves Shine in Debut
Arizona showcased productive stretches from its own young signal-callers. Rookie Carson Beck, a third-round draft pick out of Miami who led the Hurricanes to the national championship game earlier in the year, completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown.
Beck orchestrated a flawless 98-yard touchdown drive that featured a 35-yard strike to Jalen Brooks on third-and-7 from the Arizona 7-yard line, a 49-yard deep ball to Brooks, and a 5-yard scoring pass to Simi Fehoko.
“It was a cool environment and for him to just kind of, it’s just another game and that’s the way he took it and he’s been in big ones and that’s how his mindset works.”
Mike LaFleur, Cardinals coach, via Associated Press
Following Beck’s departure, fourth-string quarterback Kedon Slovis added an efficient 9-of-10 passing performance for 106 yards and a late touchdown. Veteran Jacoby Brissett remains the designated starter for the Cardinals, with journeyman Gardner Minshew serving as the backup behind him.
Hall of Fame Honors and Broadcast Debuts in Canton
Cardinals players paid tribute to Fitzgerald during warmups and on the sidelines by wearing red T-shirts bearing his iconic No. 11. Meanwhile, former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made his first appearance on the NBC broadcast crew as the lead studio analyst for Football Night in America following his departure from Pittsburgh after 19 seasons.
Both teams return to preseason action next week, with the Panthers traveling to face Buffalo on August 15 and the Cardinals visiting Las Vegas on August 13.
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