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The Hall of Fame game QB matchup is set. Here's who's taking the field
Fans itching for some real NFL football are getting a tease on Thursday night, when the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers kick off the preseason with the Hall of Fame game.
Those same fans won't be getting a marquee QB matchup, however.
The Cardinals will turn to intriguing rookie Carson Beck, while the Panthers are lining up 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett when the game kicks off in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday (8 p.m. ET, NBC).
The Cardinals announced Tuesday the decision to start Beck, while the Panthers made their move official on Monday.
Carson Beck will start at QB for the Cardinals in Thursday's Hall of Fame game, according to coach Mike LaFleur. pic.twitter.com/FGnYYv8892
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 4, 2026 Beck is one of the more noteworthy passers selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Picked in the third round by the Cardinals, the University of Miami and University of Georgia product has something of a murky outlook in the NFL. He gets his first taste – somewhat – of real NFL action when he takes the field Thursday.
Beck said the call was something of a surprise.
"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," Beck said Tuesday, adding that he has no nerves heading into the game.
On the other sideline, Pickett is looking to stick to an NFL roster. After being selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pickett is on his fifth team in four seasons, failing to latch on with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders.
Carolina's Bryce Young and Arizona's Jacoby Brissett are the presumptive QB1s for their teams.
Panthers QB depth chart
Here's who the Panthers are lining up come the regular season:
Bryce Young
Kenny Pickett
Haynes King
Young is entering a critical season for his career. He's shown flashes while under Dave Canales' guidance, but the 2023 No. 1 overall selection has yet to find the consistency needed to be considered a bona fide franchise passer. With the Panthers picking up his fifth-year option this offseason, Young is in good position to earn himself a contract extension this upcoming offseason, should he perform well. At minimum, Young will get at least one more season to prove he's the long-term answer for the Panthers in 2027.
Cardinals QB depth chart
Here's how the QB room lines up in Arizona:
Jacoby Brissett
Gardner Minshew
Carson Beck
Kedon Slovis
Interestingly, Beck gets first bite at the apple in the Cardinals first preseason game, ahead of backup Gardner Minshew.
Beck, selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, was something of a polarizing prospect, but was selected on Day 2 (67th overall) by the Cardinals. Beck was the third quarterback off the board, selected behind Fernando Mendoza (first overall) and Ty Simpson (16th overall).
Brissett will likely get the call come Week 1 as the team's QB1 after reworking his contract with the organization for the 2026 season. Minshew, another veteran, may fill in as the team's QB2, but his battle with Beck will be one to watch as the summer heats up.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Hall of Fame game QB matchup is set. Here's who's taking the field
The HallFameHereCarson BeckKenny PickettNFLHere'sFansArizona CardinalsCarolina PanthersHallThe Cardinals
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