Haynes King didn’t need long to make his first NFL appearance matter.
In Carolina’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night, the rookie quarterback stepped in midway through the second quarter and immediately changed the feel of the offense. What had been an accurate but cautious showing from Kenny Pickett gave way to a more aggressive, more daring approach once King took over.
The Panthers already knew what kind of threat he could be with his legs. King rushed for 37 touchdowns in college, and he showed that part of his game in this one, too - including the game-winning score as time expired.
But the bigger surprise was what he brought as a passer. From the jump, he looked decisive, willing to challenge the defense, and comfortable pushing the ball downfield.
His first possession ended with a touchdown throw on the move to wide receiver Ja’seem Reed. That drive set the tone for much of the night: quick decisions, a willingness to attack, and enough arm talent to keep the offense moving.
On the next series, King kept the chains moving as the first half wound down, but things got messy once Carolina got into the red zone. He had a shot at John Metchie III for a touchdown and put too much on the throw.
Then he repeated the mistake to a wide-open Jimmy Horn. After that, he finished the drive by running the wrong way, which left the Panthers settling for a field goal attempt.
King’s sharpest throw came late in the third quarter. After a scramble and a holding call put Carolina in a third-and-15, he answered with a strike to the far sideline that found Horn exactly where it needed to. The play moved the sticks and picked up an extra 15 yards when an Arizona defender hit Horn late.
He added another touchdown early in the fourth quarter, again throwing on the move. This time it was a 5-yard connection with running back Anthony Tyus III.
Then came the closing moment. King ran it in himself, dove across the goal line, and sealed a 33-30 win for Carolina.
By the end of the night, King had completed 21 of 34 passes for two touchdowns and a 95.2 passer rating, while also rushing for 39 yards and a touchdown. There was plenty to like, and plenty he’ll need to clean up, which is exactly what you’d expect from a rookie. Still, in this preseason debut, King looked like a quarterback with a higher ceiling than Pickett - at least for one night.
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Panthers Suddenly Have A Quarterback Problem After Haynes King Setback
Haynes King gave Carolina plenty to feel good about in the Hall of Fame Game against Arizona, showing the kind of dual-threat spark that can settle a quarterback battle in a hurry. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, added three carries for 39 yards, and found the end zone on the ground as well, a strong outing for a player trying to carve out momentum heading into the rest of camp.
Instead, the bigger takeaway from the exhibition turned into concern when King went down with a hamstring injury and was labeled week-to-week. Carolina does have two other quarterbacks on the roster, but the timing has the Panthers exploring their options, including a recent workout with Kyle Trask as they wait to see how long they may be without the player who had been trending in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Canales Just Made Panthers Fans Rethink One Rookie QB
The Panthers got an encouraging look at their rookie quarterbacks in the preseason opener against the Cardinals, and both Carson Beck and Haynes King did enough to keep the competition interesting. Dave Canales came away impressed with Becks poise and the way he handled the offense, while King helped fuel the comeback win with his legs and the kind of late-game spark teams notice in August.
Becks performance was especially notable because he looked settled from the start, moving the ball with a steady rhythm and giving Carolina something to think about as camp continues. King, meanwhile, showed the value of a different kind of playmaking in a roster battle that is far from settled. With more preseason games ahead, the Panthers still have time to sort out how these quarterbacks fit, but the opener at least made the decision less straightforward than it looked a week ago. [Read more 🡒]