The Carolina Panthers have the honor of kicking off the NFL preseason in 2026. The team is slated to play against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
This is always an exciting game because it marks the first NFL action since the previous season's Super Bowl. While every other team plays three preseason games, the Panthers will play four, including this one. So, can we expect to see any starters in Canton?
Dave Canales Says No Starters in Hall of Fame Game
Unfortunately for fans, the Panthers will not play any starters for this game. That's the smart move, though, considering the bad injury luck the Panthers have had this summer. Plus, there will still be three other opportunities for the starters to get reps.
"There are some competition battles for starting positions where guys will have an opportunity to play a little bit," Dave Canales said. "But some of the guys we're expecting to be out there right off the bat, I think we won't play those guys in this game."
While the clear-cut starters won't be out there, we'll still see the guys who are battling for spots. It will be interesting to see how the defensive backs and wide receivers, in particular, are handled, as there are still spots up for grabs.
First Depth Chart Released: Observations
The team released a depth chart on Monday, and there weren't many surprises.
Notably, veteran Luke Fortner is listed as the starting center over Sam Hecht. Ja'Tavion Sanders, who the team still hopes can be the future of the tight end spot, is interestingly listed as TE3, behind Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans.
At wide receiver, it's not surprising to see Xavier Legette penciled in as the WR3. Legette was in a battle with Chris Brazzell II, but with the rookie out for the year, it's Legette's job to lose. Brycen Tremayne, David Moore, and Jimmy Horn Jr. are listed as the primary backups, meaning John Metchie III and Ja'seem Reed are behind for now.
The last interesting note is on the defensive side of the ball. Second-year Cam Jackson is listed as a starter on the line next to Bobby Brown III and Derrick Brown. It's a bit surprising to see Lee Hunter behind Jackson after his impressive summer, but the team is probably just bringing him along slowly.
