Kickoff to the 2026 NFL Season
The 2026 NFL preseason officially kicks off this Thursday, August 6, at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. This annual tradition, the Hall of Fame Game, features the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers. While the contest serves as an exhibition, it marks the return of football and offers a first look at roster depth and positional battles for the upcoming season.
Betting Market Sentiment
According to data from FanDuel Sportsbook as of August 3, the Carolina Panthers enter the game as 1.5-point favorites. Despite this, public sentiment reflected in betting markets leans heavily toward the Arizona Cardinals. BetMGM reports that 78% of the money wagered to cover the spread is on Arizona. Furthermore, 73% of the betting handle is backing the Over on the 35.5-point total, suggesting expectations of a relatively high-scoring affair by preseason standards.
Team Context and Rosters
For the Carolina Panthers, the focus is on evaluating competition for starting roles. Head coach Dave Canales confirmed that quarterback Kenny Pickett will start the game, though the duration of his appearance remains undetermined. The team has released its initial depth chart, which highlights key positional battles. Defensive lineman Cam Jackson is slated to start alongside Derrick Brown and Bobby Brown III, as the team manages the absence of Tershawn Wharton due to neck surgery. On the offensive side, the tackle positions are held by Monroe Freeling and Rasheed Walker.
The Arizona Cardinals arrive in Canton as seasoned participants in this event. This marks the franchise’s sixth appearance in the Hall of Fame Game, carrying a historical record of 1-3-1. For the Cardinals, the game represents an opportunity to reset after a difficult 2025 season in which they finished with a 3-14 record. In contrast, the Panthers enter the exhibition coming off an 8-9 campaign where they secured the NFC South title before falling to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.