NewzCANTON, Ohio (AP) — Maybe a team should’ve drafted Haynes King. The rookie quarterback ran in from the 5 on the final play to give the Carolina Panthers a 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame game that kicked off the NFL preseason on Thursday night. King, who was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year last season at Georgia Tech, was 21 of 34 for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
He ran for 39 yards and the winning score. Carson Beck also had an impressive debut for Arizona. After Beck left, Kedon Slovis tossed a 1-yard TD pass to Bryson Green with 1:55 remaining to give the Cardinals a 30-27 lead.
But King rallied the Panthers on a night when both teams didn’t play their starters. Bryce Young was King’s biggest cheerleader on the sideline. King’s 4-yard TD pass to Anthony Tyus III in the opening minute of the fourth quarter put Carolina ahead 24-20.
King threw a 15-yard TD pass Ja’seem Reed in the second quarter. Both teams gave their backups and reserves opportunities to shine. Beck, Slovis and King took advantage.
Beck, a third-round pick from Miami, completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown. Veteran Jacoby Brissett is the Cardinals’ starter and their backup is journeyman Gardner Minshew. But expectations are low for Arizona in a division that includes the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks, Rams and 49ers.
So Beck may get a chance to play at some point if he develops under rookie coach Mike LaFleur. King is expected to be Carolina’s No. 3 QB behind Young and veteran Kenny Pickett.
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