A Hall of Fame game Defined By 4 Dominant Panthers Players
A Hall of Fame game Defined By 4 Dominant Panthers Players
A Hall of Fame Game Defined by 4 Dominant Panthers Players
Although offensive and defensive schemes are pared down for the Hall of Fame Game, there are still players who shine through the simplification. In the Carolina Panthers 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, multiple Panthers players did just that.
Haynes King
Taking over for second-stringer Kenny Pickett mid-way through the second quarter, King’s athleticism was on display immediately. In an offense centered around play-action passing, King excelled on bootlegs; his legs allowed him to gain leverage on free-rushing defenders, enabling him to find open receivers in the flat. He was also a scrambling threat, pulling loose on a key 3rd and 14 deep into the 4th quarter for a gain of 26 to extend the drive. He finished as the team’s second leading rusher with 39 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown with 0:02 remaining.
In addition to the rushing talent that defined his collegiate career, King showed real pocket poise as a passer, finishing the game with 180 yards and two passing touchdowns on a 61.8 completion percentage. Granted, many of these yards and completions came on short catch-and-run designs, allowing the Panthers receivers to do the heavy lifting. But on multiple occasions, King succeeded in straight drop-back passing, surveying reads, and delivering strikes over the middle beyond the sticks. Young receivers Malick Maeiga, Casey Washington, and Ja’seem Reed were all beneficiaries of his success.
It would be a shock if King did not play himself into the 53-man roster, and he may have even climbed the QB depth chart.
Aug 6, 2026; Canton, Ohio, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Haynes King (16) carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Zakee Wheatley
The high-scoring affair did not yield any high-variance plays for Carolina’s defense, but Wheatley was the epitome of consistency in the secondary. The rookie safety led the team in tackles with eight, including a forced fumble on running back Bam Knight (recovered by Knight). He was a stout tackler in the open field, and in the second quarter made a touchdown-saving tackle on Cardinals receiver Jalen Brooks after he got behind the defense on a 35-yard go-route.
With two of Carolina’s starting safeties (Trevon Moehrig and Lathan Ransom) being more at home in the box, Wheatley has paved a clear path to playing time going forward.
Jimmy Horn Jr.
In a streamlined offensive game plan revolving around short passing, Horn Jr. found himself at home. The second-year slot man led Carolina in receiving yards (44) and targets (7). At 5’8″, 174 lbs, Horn Jr. offers an elusiveness that the other Panthers receivers do not. Considering third-rounder Chris Brazzell II’s injury and Xavier Legette’s inconsistencies, it’s easy to project a larger regular-season role for Horn Jr, who only played in five games in 2025 (including Carolina’s playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams).
Aug 6, 2026; Canton, Ohio, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (15) catches the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Miles Davis
Not the influential 50s musician but the Carolina Panthers rookie RB, the Utah State man’s running style is akin to hard bop. Davis led Carolina in rushing with 56 yards on only four carries, putting his explosiveness on display in the fourth quarter with a 36-yard blast that helped Carolina to tie the game at 27.
Jul 31, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers receiver Miles Davis (37) makes a catch during Fanfest at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Davis also showed some receiving chops, bringing in gains of eight and five through the air, but maybe his most impressive play came on a loss of four on Carolina’s last drive. With 0:52 remaining and one timeout left at Arizona’s 39-yard line, Haynes King found himself under heavy duress. Rather than taking a sack and knocking Carolina out of field position, King lobbed it out to his check-down. Davis was able to high-point the football with Arizona LB Austin Keys bearing down on him, minimizing the loss and eliminating the risk of Keys intercepting the ball.
In an RB desperate for some explosiveness, Davis could perhaps see work alongside Jonathon Brooks and Chuba Hubbard going forward.