The Hall of Fame Game gave the Carolina Panthers something they rarely get in August: a finish worth leaning forward for. In a 33-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals, the game swung all the way to the final play, when Haynes King darted in for a short touchdown to seal it.
It was the kind of preseason opener that can still feel empty if the big names are all in street clothes, and that was the case here. Bryce Young, Tetairoa McMillan, Jonathon Brooks, Jaelan Phillips, Devin Lloyd and the Cardinals’ top players were nowhere to be found. Even so, the night still produced real takeaways for Carolina, including a few unexpected bright spots.
King was the obvious headline. Coming off the bench, he piled up more than 200 total yards, threw three touchdowns and avoided turnovers.
He was sharp for almost the entire night, with only one missed throw that he really should have completed. More than that, he delivered when the game tightened up, leading two two-minute drills - one to force a tie before halftime and another to put Carolina ahead with zeroes on the clock.
John Metchie III also gave the Panthers a reason to pay attention. He entered camp with a rough start behind him and looked like a player in danger of being cut before the season.
With a crowded receiver room, he needed a day like this, and he got it. Metchie made several catches, contributed on offense and added special teams work, including the longest kick return of the night.
Then there was AJ Dillon, who came into the offseason looking like little more than a camp body. He was fourth on the running back depth chart behind Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks and Trevor Etienne, who handled most of the kick return duties last season.
But in this game, Dillon flashed enough to force the issue. At times, he looked better than Etienne as a runner, and while he still doesn’t offer the same value on special teams, his performance at least gives Carolina something to think about.
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Panthers Suddenly Have A Quarterback Problem After Haynes King Setback
Haynes King gave the Panthers plenty to feel good about in the Hall of Fame Game against the Cardinals before the night took an unwanted turn. The Carolina quarterback moved the offense well, throwing for 180 yards and two touchdowns while also adding a rushing score, the kind of dual-threat showing that can make a preseason game feel a lot more meaningful than the scoreboard says.
Then came the setback, and with it a familiar camp headache for a team trying to sort out its depth chart. Carolina already has two other quarterbacks on the roster, but the loss of King for the short term has pushed the club to look around for another arm, including a recent workout with Kyle Trask as it waits for clarity on the injury. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Canales Just Made Panthers Fans Rethink One Rookie QB
Carolinas preseason opener against Arizona gave the Panthers a useful early look at a rookie quarterback room that suddenly feels more interesting than it did a week ago. Carson Beck and Haynes King both made positive impressions, giving Dave Canales something to think about as the team sorts out its roster and keeps building through training camp and the rest of the preseason.
Beck drew particular notice for the way he handled himself, earning praise from Canales after a sharp outing that showed the kind of poise teams want from a young passer. King added his own case by helping spark a comeback and finishing it off with a game-winning rushing touchdown, which only deepens the competition as both quarterbacks try to prove they belong on the 53-man picture. [Read more 🡒]
Haynes King Just Gave Panthers Fans A Real Reason To Watch
There was plenty for Panthers fans to take in on a preseason night against the Cardinals, but rookie quarterback Haynes King may have been the most interesting part of the whole thing. In his NFL debut, King looked comfortable enough to keep Carolina moving, completing 21 of 34 passes with two touchdown throws while also adding 39 rushing yards and a score on the ground in the 33-30 win.
King played with the kind of decisiveness and arm strength that tend to grab attention early, and he helped lead multiple scoring drives while showing the sort of gunslinger mentality that can make a young quarterback worth watching. There were rough edges too, including some inaccurate throws and a misdirected run, but for a debut there was enough there to leave Panthers observers wondering how much more he can show once the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]