Panthers Triumph Over Cardinals in Preseason Opener
The Carolina Panthers secured a 33-30 victory against the Arizona Cardinals during the Hall of Fame game, marking the start of the NFL preseason. Rookie quarterback Haynes King clinched the win with a five-yard run on the final play. Previously playing for Georgia Tech and recognized as the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, King completed 21 of 34 passes, gaining 180 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Alongside his passing contributions, he amassed 39 running yards, including the decisive score.
Panthers coach Dave Canales praised King, saying, “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.”
In a close contest, Carson Beck showcased impressive skills for the Cardinals. When Beck departed, Kedon Slovis passed a one-yard touchdown to Bryson Green, granting the Cardinals a 30-27 lead late in the game. Despite missing their starters, both teams relied on backups, offering them a platform to demonstrate their abilities.
King’s fourth-quarter performance included a four-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Tyus III, lifting Carolina to a 24-20 lead. He also connected with Ja’seem Reed for a 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter. A notable 26-yard run on third-and-14 kept the Panthers’ final drive alive. “These are things that he did throughout his career,” Canales said of King. “The bottom line is move the chains.”
For the Cardinals, Beck was present throughout its key plays. A third-round pick from Miami, he completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. His play included a 35-yard pass to Jalen Brooks and a 49-yard deep throw to Brooks, capped with a five-yard touchdown to Simi Fehoko.
Arizona holds Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback, with Gardner Minshew as backup. However, Beck’s potential impressed coach Mike LaFleur, who remarked, “He operated like a professional. He looked fantastic. He was accurate. He was on time. Our rush was decent. He got the ball out, threw some really beautiful passes down the field, up the sideline on some double moves, over the middle, to keep the drive alive in some third-down situations, so tip my hat to him.”
With King expected to be Carolina’s third quarterback behind Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett, he entered the game after Pickett’s initial performance of 8 of 11 passes for 62 yards.
Beyond the game, other highlights included the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 announcement featuring Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Adam Vinatieri, Larry Fitzgerald, and Luke Kuechly. Mike Tomlin debuted on NBC’s “Football Night in America,” and Cardinals players honored Larry Fitzgerald with red T-shirts emblazoned with his No. 11 during warmups.
Looking ahead, the Panthers are set to face Buffalo on August 15, while the Cardinals will play against Las Vegas on August 13.