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Six Panthers to Keep a Close Eye on During Hall of Fame Game
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- Six Panthers to Keep a Close Eye on During Hall of Fame Game
The Carolina Panthers will be back on the field on Thursday night! The team is taking on the Arizona Cardinals in the annual Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
Head coach Dave Canales revealed that the team's starters won't be playing , but that might actually make the game more interesting. Instead of seeing the starters risk injury, we'll get to see bubble players fighting for their football lives.
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Today, let's identify six players who will be the most interesting to watch when this game starts.
QB Haynes King
Bryce Young obviously won't play, so all eyes are on Kenny Pickett and Haynes King. We've seen plenty from Pickett over the years and he's safe as the backup, which means King is who we're most excited to see.
The Panthers haven't preferred to keep three quarterbacks, so can King change that? If he has a great preseason, the Panthers could be forced to keep him around. In college, King was lethal with his legs so I'm excited to see how the Panthers use him in a game.
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WR Jimmy Horn Jr.
Tetairoa McMillan , Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette won't play, which sets up a big opportunity for the bubble receivers. Jimmy Horn Jr. is particularly interesting, because he's firmly on the bubble right now.
I'm interested to see how involved Horn is tonight. The receiver needs to separate from the pack, so if he comes out and doesn't do much, that will be a bad sign for his chances to make the team.
TE Feleipe Franks
Feleipe Franks has a big opportunity in front of him. Mitchell Evans and Ja'Tavion Sanders have both been banged recently, so Franks should have plenty of chances on Thursday night.
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This Panthers' tight end room is underwhelming, so there's room for a player to step up and steal a spot. Franks is also a weapon on special teams, which will only help his chances. If he makes some plays on offense, too, he can make this squad.
DL Lee Hunter
Rookie Lee Hunter wasn't listed on a starter on the initial depth chart, so it seems like he's going to have to earn his role. Expect the second-round pick to come out with high energy tonight after an impressive summer showing.
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The injury to Tershawn Wharton and retirement of LaBryan Ryan means there's a clear path to playing time for Hunter. The rookie needs to outplay the likes of Cam Jackson and Aaron Hall and prove why he was an early draft pick.
LB/S Isaiah Simmons
Isaiah Simmons is a veteran with plenty of experience, but he's not even guaranteed to make the team. That's why it'll be interesting to see how he plays on Thursday, because he'll be one of the most experienced players on the field for the defense.
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Simmons is trying to resurrect his career and prove he can be a reliable defender. He's battling the likes of Bam Martin-Scott and Claudin Cherilus for a role, and he can prove tonight why he deserves to be kept around.
CB Will Lee III
Will Lee III is another rookie I can't wait to see in action. Lee has looked awesome this summer, and his combination of size and speed could make him an interesting boundary corner.
Lee has been so good, in fact, that the Panthers have experimented with Jaycee Horn in the slot, so Horn, Mike Jackson, and Lee can all be on the field at the same time. With a big performance on Thursday, Lee could go ahead and force the Panthers to make that change permanent.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
