Rookie undrafted quarterback Haynes King scrambled for a five-yard touchdown as time expired, lifting the Carolina Panthers to a 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, kicking off the NFL preseason.
The NFL preseason opened under the lights in Canton with a dramatic finish that showcased the league’s roster hopefuls rather than its established marquee names.
Haynes King and the Panthers Reserve Rally
Carolina head coach Dave Canales rested starting quarterback Bryce Young, giving veteran Kenny Pickett the opening assignment. Pickett completed 8 of 11 passes for 62 yards before giving way to Haynes King, the rookie quarterback who earned Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors last season at Georgia Tech. King seized the opportunity, orchestrating scoring drives on five of his six series.
King finished 21 of 34 for 180 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding 39 rushing yards. His mobility proved decisive on the game’s final possession when he escaped pressure and scampered for a 26-yard run on third-and-14 to keep the final drive going.
“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
Earlier in the contest, King connected with Ja’seem Reed on a 15-yard touchdown pass in the first half and found Anthony Tyus III for a 4-yard score in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. The offensive showcase also featured strong outings from backup running backs. Zonovan “Bam” Knight gained 60 yards on 12 carries, while A.J. Dillon contributed a short touchdown run and an 18-yard reception.
Carson Beck and the Arizona Quarterback Showcase
On the opposing sideline, Arizona also kept its presumptive leaders in street clothes, resting veteran starter Jacoby Brissett and journeyman backup Gardner Minshew. That decision opened the door for rookie Carson Beck, a third-round selection from Miami who led the Hurricanes to the national championship game earlier.
Beck made the most of his playing time against Carolina’s second- and third-string secondary units, completing 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown with a 125.4 passer rating.
“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 rookie coach
After Beck departed, Kedon Slovis entered and nearly secured a victory for the Cardinals by tossing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Green with 1:55 remaining, giving Arizona a 30-27 lead that preceded King’s game-winning drive.
Roster Battles and Preseason Trajectory
The annual exhibition serves primarily as an audition for players fighting to secure the final spots on 53-man rosters. For Carolina, King’s composure and production made a strong case for him to claim the third quarterback role behind Young and Pickett while putting pressure on the front office regarding practice squad decisions.
Wide receiver depth also came under scrutiny. With regular contributors such as Xavier Legette and David Moore resting, receivers including John Metchie III — who recorded three catches for 38 yards and a 36-yard kick return — and Jimmy Horn Jr. received extended looks to prove their value on the roster bubble.
Both franchises now shift their focus to the next phase of the preseason schedule.
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