Carson Beck is finally making his NFL debut, but let’s be real, the wildest storyline kicking off the exhibition season is Kenny Pickett lining up for his fifth team in four years. You read that right: five teams in four years. This Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, isn’t just a gentle re-entry into football, it’s a showcase of massive opportunity and a journey that’s almost unbelievable.
Rookie QB Steps Up, First Rounders Sit It Out
Beck, a third-round pick out of Miami who led the Hurricanes to a national championship showdown against Indiana, is getting the nod to start for new Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur. And honestly, the dude’s got ice in his veins. Beck straight up said he had “no clue” he was going to start, but that he’s not nervous. “I think the last time I was nervous was maybe when I was 8 years old for our city championship in Pop Warner,” he told reporters. That’s a level of calm most pros only dream of! This preseason opener is all about guys like Beck, fighting for every snap, showing what they can do. It’s not about the big names, with first-round picks like Cardinals running back Jerimiyah Love (No. 3 pick) and Panthers tackle Monroe Freeling (No. 19) sitting this one out. Arizona’s veteran starter Jacoby Brissett and backup Gardner Minshew are holding the fort, but the spotlight is on Beck.
Pickett’s Unbelievable Journey and Carolina’s Haunting Finish
Then there’s Kenny Pickett, the man, the myth, the legend of the revolving roster spot. A 2022 first-round pick by the Steelers, he led Pittsburgh to a 14-10 record in two seasons. But since then? It’s been a whirlwind. He spent the 2024 season with the Eagles, then they traded him to Cleveland last year. The Browns then shipped him to the Raiders during training camp, where he actually started two games for Las Vegas. Now, the Panthers signed him to back up Bryce Young. You can’t make this stuff up! Pickett’s goal for the game is simple: “Just want to go out there and operate a high level. All the hard work that we’re putting in practice you want to see come to life on game day and that’s everyone just doing their job and executing.”
Carolina, by the way, snagged the NFC South last season with an 8-9 record, but that wild-card loss still stings. They led the 12-win Rams in the final minute of their playoff game before NFL MVP Matthew Stafford launched a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds left, ending their season 34-31. No wonder Panthers coach Dave Canales noted “tempers are flaring a little bit” in practice. They’re itching to hit someone new.
What’s at Stake in Preseason
This Hall of Fame Game might not count in the standings, but it’s everything for these players. Preseason is a chance for rookies, backups, and guys fighting for roster spots to prove their worth. Most starters, as we know, will wait until next month for the games that count. Coaches like Canales are using these practice sessions to get their teams ready. It’s why joint practices are blowing up, with 28 teams scheduling them this year. Rams coach Sean McVay even called their upcoming joint practices with the Cowboys and Saints “basically their preseason.” For the Cardinals and Panthers, it’s about seeing who steps up, who seizes the moment, and who can make a case to stick around when the lights come on for real.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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