Dave Canales has made the Hall of Fame Game a useful early test for the Panthers, with Kenny Pickett set to start on Thursday night against the Cardinals before Haynes King takes over for the rest of the work. It is not a traditional preseason setup, but it does give the coaching staff a chance to see more players in a live setting.
Canales has generally preferred joint practices over piling up preseason snaps for starters, and that approach still holds here. The difference is that this week comes with the bonus of a fourth preseason game, which gives the Panthers a little more room to evaluate players who are still fighting for roster spots.
Why the Hall of Fame Game matters
On Monday, Canales explained that the plan is designed to spread the workload and avoid overloading any one group. He said the Panthers have practices leading into the game and practices coming out of it, so giving several players a couple of series should help the whole group.
That is the key point here: this is less about protecting a headline starter and more about creating football situations for everyone else. Canales said the team "just need[s] the football," and the Hall of Fame Game gives them exactly that.
For players on the bubble, that matters. Canales described these snaps as valuable opportunities for those battling for places on the active roster or practice squad, because it allows the staff to see how they take the game plan and make it come alive on the field.
Haynes King gets his chance
Haynes King is the name that stands out for those watching the quarterback picture closely. With Pickett starting, King will handle the rest of the workload, giving the undrafted rookie an important chance to show what he can do in a live game environment.
Canales has also been clear that quarterback evaluation is about more than simply handling the ball. He pointed out that most quarterbacks have good hands, but the real test is how they fit into the run game, play-action concepts, dropback passing and zone responsibilities. Those are all areas where a young player can only improve by taking real reps.
That is why this game carries extra value for King. Even a few series can tell the staff something useful about how quickly he processes the details and whether he can turn practice work into something that looks complete on the field.
A unique setup before the season
The Panthers reported early and have extra time to evaluate players before Thursday night’s game, which makes this feel like a rare preseason opportunity. Canales called it a unique situation, and it is easy to see why.
In most years, starters would not be expected to feature in this kind of extra preseason game. Here, though, the balance of the week has created space for Pickett to start, King to follow, and the rest of the roster hopefuls to get meaningful work.
That may be the biggest takeaway. The Hall of Fame Game is not just about the result in Canton, Ohio. For the Panthers, it is another chance to sort through competition battles, get live reps, and learn a little more about who can help when the real games begin.
