The Carolina Panthers opened the 2026 NFL preseason with a 33-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. It took until the final play to decide it. Rookie quarterback Haynes King ran 5 yards for a touchdown as time expired, giving Carolina the win after Arizona had taken the lead less than two minutes earlier.
The Cardinals appeared to have completed their own late comeback when quarterback Kedon Slovis found Bryson Green in the right corner of the end zone with 1:55 remaining. Green made the catch while sliding near the sideline. Officials initially ruled the pass incomplete, but replay showed Green had control and got both feet down. The call was overturned, putting Arizona ahead 30-27.
Carolina still had time. King helped move the Panthers down the field, including a 26-yard run on third-and-14 that kept the final drive going. With two seconds remaining and Carolina facing third-and-goal, King took off again. He ran through an opening and made it across the goal line for the winning score.
King was not the rookie quarterback getting most of the attention entering the game. Arizona third-round pick Carson Beck was making his preseason debut after being selected No. 65 overall. With regular starters Bryce Young and Jacoby Brissett sitting out, younger quarterbacks had plenty of chances to play.
Beck took advantage early. He completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown while playing the entire first half and Arizona’s first possession of the third quarter. He helped lead the Cardinals on a 96-yard touchdown drive and repeatedly connected with receiver Jalen Brooks downfield. Brooks finished with three catches for 99 yards, including a 49-yard reception.
Beck also threw a 5-yard touchdown to Simi Fehoko on a fade route, putting Arizona ahead 14-7 in the second quarter. It was a steady first NFL preseason appearance for the rookie.
King entered for Kenny Pickett during Carolina’s second possession of the second quarter. The undrafted rookie from Georgia Tech quickly led a 65-yard scoring drive, ending it with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Ja’seem Reed. He later threw a 4-yard touchdown to Anthony Tyus III as Carolina moved in front.
There were misses too. Just before halftime, King had Jimmy Horn Jr. open down the right side but overthrew him on what could have been a touchdown. Carolina settled for a Ryan Fitzgerald field goal and went into halftime tied 17-17.
King finished 21 of 34 passing for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed three times for 39 yards, with most of those yards coming when Carolina needed them late.
Arizona got production from its other backups as well. Bam Knight and Corey Kiner combined for 113 rushing yards on 24 carries, while Chad Ryland made three field goals. Slovis completed 9 of 10 passes for 106 yards and the late touchdown to Green.
Fitzgerald made both of his field-goal attempts for Carolina, including a 37-yarder that gave the Panthers a 27-23 lead with 6:53 remaining. Arizona answered with Green’s touchdown, but King and the Panthers got the ball one more time.
They used all 1:55 of it. On the final snap, King kept the ball himself and crossed the goal line as the clock reached zero.
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