Full Breakdown
Rookie Carson Beck Starts for Cardinals in Hall of Fame Preseason Game
8/5/2026, 3:10:53 AM
Hall of Fame Game Quarterback Matchup
The Arizona Cardinals will open the Hall of Fame preseason game in Canton, Ohio, with rookie quarterback Carson Beck under center, while the Carolina Panthers will start 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett. The game is scheduled for Thursday night on NBC.
Draft Background and Depth-Chart Context
Beck was taken in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 67th overall, making him the third quarterback selected after Fernando Mendoza (first overall) and Ty Simpson (16th overall). He joins a Cardinals quarterback room that lists veteran Jacoby Brissett as the presumptive starter for Week 1, with Gardner Minshew as the likely backup and Beck positioned ahead of Minshew for the preseason opener.
Pickett, selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, has moved through four teams—Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Las Vegas—before landing with Carolina, where he is now the second option behind 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.
Official Statements & Responses
Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur announced the decision to start Beck on Tuesday, noting that Beck’s recent practice was “the best” he has seen and that the second- and third-unit players will see significant reps in Thursday’s game.
Beck himself said he was surprised by the call but remained calm: “I had no clue that I was gonna start, obviously, I thought I was gonna play in it, but I didn't really have any expectations of (starting) going into any of this,” — Carson Beck, while the Panthers made their move official on Monday. He added that he felt excitement and recalled his last nerves came from an eight-year-old Pop Warner championship game.
Impact and Early Outlook
Beck’s start gives the Cardinals a chance to evaluate a third-round rookie against a nationally televised opponent, while Pickett’s appearance offers the Panthers a look at a quarterback still seeking a permanent roster spot after a journeyman stretch.
For the Panthers, the organization exercised Pickett’s fifth-year option this offseason, keeping him under contract through 2027 and preserving the possibility of a longer-term role if he performs well.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I had no clue that I was gonna start, obviously, I thought I was gonna play in it, but I didn't really have any expectations of (starting) going into any of this,” — Carson Beck, while the Panthers made their move official on Monday
- “Well, now's the time to try,” — Carson Beck, while the Panthers made their move official on Monday
- “It's a game at the end of the day," Beck said.” — Carson Beck, while the Panthers made their move official on Monday
