Cardinals Kick Off 2026 Preseason at Hall of Fame Game vs. Panthers

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.

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Who Takes the Field

Arizona sports bettors will get their first look at rookie quarterback Carson Beck when he takes the field as the Cardinals' starter Thursday. The third-round pick will make his NFL debut against Carolina after spending training camp behind Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II on the depth chart.

Brissett and Minshew are both unlikely to play, giving Beck an opportunity to take the majority of the quarterback reps against the Panthers. Head coach Mike LaFleur said the team wants to see its quarterbacks operate cleanly, make the right reads and make smart decisions during the preseason. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, remains another player to watch. His playing status has not been confirmed.

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. That order remains relevant for the regular season, but Beck will get the start Thursday against Carolina. The Cardinals announced that Brissett and Minshew are unlikely to play, giving Beck the opportunity to lead the offense in his first NFL game.

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.

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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.