Panthers-Cardinals 2026 Hall of Fame Game: What We Learned from Carolina’s 33-30 win | Latest NFL News, Analysis & Updates

1) Welcome to the Beckoning. I walked into Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium alongside a Cardinals fan Thursday evening and was pleasantly surprised to hear how excited he was to watch Carson Beck lead his favorite team’s offense. I’d imagine he was rather delighted by the time the Cardinals and Panthers reached halftime. In a game filled with second- and third-stringers, Beck established himself as the best player on the field throughout the first half, appearing comfortable and well aware of his responsibilities in his first NFL action. The rookie did a little bit of everything and did it all remarkably well: dump-offs when the coverage dictated it, short bullets within the rhythm of play-action, intermediate throws on time and on target, passes with enough zip to find open teammates accurately outside the numbers, and a beautiful back corner fade for a Simi Fehoko touchdown. The most impressive of all were his deep passes, missiles launched with excellent trajectory and timing that showed off the arm talent that once drew a four-star reputation as a high school recruit. Equally as impressive was his execution of whatever was asked of him by coach Mike LaFleur, especially the occasional pump fakes to lure defenders into biting on double moves along the sideline. Although a rookie, Beck (15 of 19 for 188 yards, TD, no interceptions, 125.4 rating) handled most everything like a quarterback who had seen these challenges before. He was comfortable in the pocket, navigated it well and fired with conviction. We’ll see if he can sustain the positive momentum through the rest of the preseason – and if it makes the quarterback situation interesting in Arizona.