The Arizona Cardinals open their 2026 preseason on Thursday, August 6, against the Carolina Panthers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. The annual matchup, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, marks the unofficial start of the NFL season, with kickoff at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Who Takes the Field
Arizona sports bettors will be watching to see whether rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and quarterback Jacoby Brissett see action, as neither has been confirmed to play.
Injuries have already hit the team. Cornerback Jaden Davis and defensive lineman P.J. Mustipher were both placed on injured reserve during training camp. Davis was not projected to make Arizona's final 53-man roster, but Mustipher was in the mix as a rotational piece on the defensive line. To fill the spots, the Cardinals signed defensive lineman Brodric Martin and cornerback Quinton Newsome.
A First Look at the Depth Chart
The Cardinals released their first depth chart of the season on August 2, four days before kickoff in Canton. Jacoby Brissett is listed as the starting quarterback, with Gardner Minshew as his backup and rookie Carson Beck third on the depth chart, so all three could see the field against Carolina.
Tyler Allgeier is listed as the starting running back, ahead of rookie Jeremiyah Love and James Conner. On defense, two starting jobs are still open entering preseason: cornerback opposite Will Johnson, where it is Denzel Burke or Max Melton, and outside linebacker, where Zaven Collins is splitting reps with Baron Browning. Those open competitions are the ones most likely to see extended snaps Thursday and throughout the rest of the preseason as the coaching staff evaluates the roster.
The Rest of the Preseason and the Opener
After the Cardinals open the preseason in Canton against the Panthers, they hit the road to face the Raiders (Aug. 13). Arizona then hosts the Cowboys (Aug. 22) before closing out the preseason back on the road against the Packers (Aug. 28). The regular season opener follows on September 13, when the Cardinals travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers.
Long Odds Heading Into 2026
The Cardinals Super Bowl odds are the longest at DraftKings Sportsbook. Arizona also trails the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks in NFC West odds, and DraftKings Arizona lists the Cardinals as underdogs in all 17 regular season games, with a projected win total of 3.5, the lowest in the league. While the Cardinals enter the season with long odds, players such as Love, tight end Trey McBride, and Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker give Arizona a young core to build around.





