The NFL season opens in Canton this Thursday, and the Hall of Fame game brings a little bit of everything: a preseason look at the Cardinals and Panthers, plus the sport’s biggest individual honor on the same stage.
Arizona and Carolina meet at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame game, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug.
- The game arrives as both teams try to set the tone early - Arizona under Mike LaFleur, Carolina after winning the NFC South title.
The Hall of Fame weekend also carries its own spotlight. Five players will be inducted on August 6: Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Drew Brees, Roger Craig and Adam Vinatieri.
For fans heading to Canton, tickets are already available. StubHub has Cardinals vs.
Panthers seats on sale now, with last-minute prices starting at $50 for upper and lower level seats. Club passes are listed at $150.
Arizona’s 2026 slate opens on the road against the Chargers on Sun., Sept. 13 at 4:30 p.m. ET, then continues with home games against the Seahawks, Lions, Broncos, Commanders, Eagles, Jets and Raiders, plus trips to the 49ers, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Seahawks, Chiefs and Saints. The Cardinals’ bye comes in Week 14, and their Week 18 matchup against the 49ers is listed as TBD.
Carolina begins its 2026 schedule at home against the Bears on Sun., Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET, then heads to the Falcons and Browns before hosting the Lions in Week 4. The Panthers’ bye falls in Week 5, and their schedule also includes games against the Eagles, Buccaneers, Packers, Broncos, Saints, Ravens, Vikings, Bengals, Steelers and Seahawks, with two late-season matchups still listed as TBD.
In Other News...
Walter Nolen Faces Big Year As Cardinals Wait For Breakout
Walter Nolen entered the league with plenty of buzz when Arizona took him 16th overall in 2025, and his first season offered a little of everything except the full breakout the Cardinals were hoping to see. He appeared in six games without a start, flashed with 11 tackles, two sacks and five quarterback hits, and also had to navigate a calf injury and a meniscus tear along the way. Now healthy, he has also reshaped his body this offseason, dropping weight and saying he feels more explosive heading into a year that carries a lot more expectation.
The Cardinals have reason to believe the next step is there, especially after a minor issue in practice did not turn into anything more serious. For a defense that wants more disruption from the interior, Nolens jump matters, and the team has been open about wanting more productivity from a player drafted to be a difference-maker. The talent is obvious, the health is better, and the pressure is on for him to turn those flashes into something Arizona can count on every week. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Backfield Battle Just Got More Crowded In Camp
The Cardinals added another layer to their backfield evaluation this week by claiming running back Evan Hull off waivers and bringing in Jermar Jefferson for a workout as training camp continues to sort out the depth chart. Hull arrives after stops with the Texans, Colts, Steelers and Saints, giving Arizona another option to examine as the competition for reserve snaps and practice reps keeps building.
Arizona also used the waiver wire to add defensive tackle Cam Horsley, a move that required parting with defensive tackle Coziah Izzard and wide receiver Tejhuan Palmer to clear room. Horsley comes over after being waived by the Titans following a brief stint with the team, and while the extra additions help across the roster, the more interesting storyline for the Cardinals remains how many bodies they keep cycling through the running back group before camp starts to narrow. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Radio Booth Enters A New Era After Familiar Voice Exits
A familiar part of Cardinals game days is changing this fall, with Arizona turning to J.P. Shadrick as its new radio play-by-play voice. Shadrick brings more than two decades in sports broadcasting to the job, and his rsum includes time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Westwood One Sports, giving the Cardinals a veteran presence as they reshape the sound of their broadcasts.
He takes over for Dave Pasch, who spent 24 years in the role before stepping down to move into a new position with ESPN. For listeners, it marks the end of one long run and the start of another, with Shadrick now tasked with building his own connection to a fan base that has grown accustomed to Paschs voice over the years. [Read more 🡒]