Overview
- Carson Beck, the Cardinals' third‑round rookie, was confirmed to start and is expected to take the bulk of Arizona's snaps in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Thursday.
- Head coach Mike LaFleur said roughly 30 Cardinals will not play and specifically ruled out No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love from the opener.
- Veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew are expected to sit, signaling the team will prioritize player health over preseason exposure for established roster pieces.
- The Panthers will start Kenny Pickett as Carolina also treats the game as a live evaluation window after training‑camp injuries have stretched their depth.
- The matchup gives LaFleur his first live look at personnel in game conditions and offers backups a chance to stake roster spots, a result that could speed evaluative decisions and affect depth charts before the regular season.