The NFL is finally back!
Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game not only honors those being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, but also gives fans their first taste of game action since the Super Bowl.
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Each year, teams are chosen for this game based on who is being inducted into the Hall of Fame that year. With Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly being inducted this weekend, the Cardinals and Panthers were selected for the game.
Playing in the Hall of Fame Game also gives the teams more time to evaluate their players. Whereas the other 30 teams in the NFL will play three preseason games, the Cardinals and Panthers will play four because of the Hall of Fame Game.
Starters are not expected to take the field, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t storylines to watch. Arizona, for example, will be starting third-round rookie quarterback Carson Beck under center.
Carolina will start Kenny Pickett under center, but undrafted rookie Haynes King is expected to get a chance to prove himself in his NFL debut.
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Start time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium | Canton, OH
TV channel/live stream: NBC, Peacock
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest news and highlights as the Cardinals and Panthers face off in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game.
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Kate Magdziuk
The Carolina Panthers also released the team’s first depth chart of the season ahead of the Hall of Fame Game, leaving one question up in the air for fantasy football managers — could we see a shakeup in the Panthers’ backfield this season?
The Panthers selected Texas prospect Jonathon Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, coming off a torn ACL that ended his collegiate campaign. After making his way back from the injury, he suffered another torn ACL in his third NFL game in Week 14 of the 2024 season — the very game in which he made his first (and only) career start.
It seems reasonable to believe the Panthers once thought Brooks could be the future of their run game given the draft capital invested; now, fully healthy, could he be in the mix to finally make waves alongside Chuba Hubbard?
Brooks has now participated in his first padded training camp practice ever and has reportedly looked “shifty” in practice. He should conceivably have a path toward a share of the workload if he can stay healthy, especially following the departure of Rico Dowdle this offseason.
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Kate Magdziuk
The Arizona Cardinals released the team’s first depth chart of the season ahead of the Hall of Fame Game.
It’s worth noting that rookie Carson Beck is listed at QB3 behind starter Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II. Beck will be starting the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game and has garnered some positive reviews as of late for his performance in camp.
Rookie Jeremiyah Love is listed at RB2 behind free agent signing Tyler Allgeier, while veteran James Conner is listed at RB3. Word is that the team doesn’t want to “overload” Love in his rookie season after taking him No. 3 overall in this year’s draft, while Conner is coming off a season-ending ankle injury heading into his age-31 season. Love has been getting reps with the first team as training camp progresses, however, after Allgeier commanded most of the first-team reps early on.
Check out the rest of the depth chart here:
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Teddy Ricketson
The Arizona Cardinals will be without No. 3 overall draft pick Jeremiyah Love on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers.
Head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters ahead of practice Wednesday that the rookie running back will not be suiting up Thursday night.
Reports about Love have been good through training camp. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said that everyone can see the running back’s explosiveness.
Third-round selection Carson Beck will be starting at quarterback. Veteran QB Jacoby Brissett will not play, so Beck is expected to get a good amount of reps in the game.
The other quarterbacks on Arizona’s roster are Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis as the Cardinals look to determine Brissett’s backup to begin the season.
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Kate Magdziuk
Here’s a look at the odds for the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game via FanDuel Sportsbook:
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Point spread: Panthers -1.5
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Moneyline odds: Panthers -124, Cardinals +106
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Kate Magdziuk
We wouldn’t have the 2026 Hall of Fame Game without … you know, the Hall of Fame. So, presenting the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026:
Also, in case you’ve forgotten, Bill Belichick will notably not be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year despite being eligible. Click here to refresh yourself on that controversy.
