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Football Is Back: Panthers Beat Cardinals 33-30 on a Walk-Off Touchdown Run
Carolina beat Arizona 33-30 in the Hall of Fame Game. What the first preseason box score does — and does not — mean for dynasty rosters.
By Kenny Flermoen · August 7, 2026
Preseason is open. Carolina beat Arizona 33-30 Thursday night in Canton, and a third-string rookie closed it with a touchdown run as time expired.
That rookie was Haynes King. Almost nobody who actually matters on a dynasty roster played — both teams sat starting quarterbacks and most of their skill-position stars. That is normal for the Hall of Fame Game. You still got a full night of football, just not from the names in your lineup.
Who put up numbers
Full box scores for preseason take a minute to settle. What we have right now is yards and touchdowns for the guys who played — not every attempt, target, or carry yet.
Quarterbacks: King (CAR, third on the depth chart) had 180 pass yards, two pass TDs, 39 rush yards, and the game-winning rush TD. That was the biggest dual-threat line of the night. Carson Beck (ARI, third string) threw for 188 yards and a TD in his first NFL game. Kedon Slovis followed with 106 yards and a TD. Kenny Pickett started for Carolina and threw for 62 yards before King took over.
Running backs: Corey Kiner (ARI) had 57 rush yards, a rush TD, and two catches. Bam Knight led Arizona rushers with 60 yards. A.J. Dillon scored a rushing TD for Carolina on 18 rush yards and added a catch for 18. Trevor Etienne had 12 rush yards. Evan Hull also ran for Arizona (23 yards) — our player page still tags him Houston, which is stale team data, not a trade signal.
Receivers and tight ends:Jalen Brooks was the best receiver line we have — 3 catches, 99 yards against backup coverage. John Metchie III went 3 for 38. Jimmy Horn Jr. went 4 for 44. Xavier Weaver had 3 for 31. Simi Fehoko scored on his only catch (5 yards). Carolina's tight ends chipped in too: Ja'Tavion Sanders (3 for 13) and James Mitchell (3 for 15).
Kickers: Chad Ryland hit 3 field goals for Arizona. Ryan Fitzgerald hit 2 for Carolina.
Why your starters were not out there
Arizona sat Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier, Trey McBride, and Marvin Harrison Jr. Carolina sat Bryce Young, Tetairoa McMillan, and Jalen Coker. Nobody risks starters in a game that does not count. What you watched was camp bodies fighting for 53-man jobs — which is why King, Beck, and Brooks got the full night to show something.
What it means for dynasty
Almost nothing for the players who matter. McBride, Harrison, Love, and McMillan did not play. Their value scores and 2026 projections do not move off a Hall of Fame box.
Carolina's backup job is the one thing to watch. King looked better than Pickett on Thursday. If that keeps up in camp, it is a Charlotte QB2 story — not a Bryce Young story. Beck's debut is the same kind of note in Arizona: interesting, still behind a veteran starter, not a waiver claim.
One preseason game is a small sample. Watch the rest of camp before you move a roster spot. When real news hits, price it on the Dynasty Trade Calculator.
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FAQ
- Did the Hall of Fame Game change anyone's dynasty value?
- No. Both teams sat their real starters. One preseason night for backups does not move Dynasty Value Scores or 2026 projections for the names you care about.
- Who actually played for each team?
- Backups and roster hopefuls. Carolina started Kenny Pickett, then went to rookie Haynes King — two passing TDs and the game-winning rush. Arizona gave most of the work to rookie Carson Beck (188 pass yards, one TD), then Kedon Slovis.
- Should I add Haynes King or Carson Beck in dynasty?
- Not off one preseason game. Both sit behind established names on the depth chart. Watch them in camp if you run deep leagues. Do not burn a roster spot today.