Panthers and Cardinals to Open 2026 Preseason in Hall of Fame Game
The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals will face off in the NFL Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, marking the league's preseason kickoff and honoring inductees Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Kuechly.
The NFL will begin its 2026 preseason with the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals were selected to play because wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and linebacker Luke Kuechly are among the Hall of Fame inductees this year. Both clubs will receive an extra preseason contest, giving them four games to evaluate roster talent while the other 30 teams play three.
Arizona is expected to start third-round rookie quarterback Carson Beck, while Carolina will have Kenny Pickett under center and give undrafted rookie Haynes King his NFL debut. The game is slated to begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.