Panthers Name Pickett Starter for Hall of Fame Contest; NBC to Broadcast

The Carolina Panthers have finalized their quarterback plans for the upcoming preseason opener. Head coach Dave Canales announced on Monday that Kenny Pickett will take the first snap when the team faces the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night.

While Pickett is set to start, Canales indicated that his playing time will likely be limited. The head coach emphasized that the primary goal is to manage workloads across the roster to ensure no single unit is overextended, with practices scheduled both immediately before and after the contest.

As is customary for the annual Hall of Fame Game, the Panthers plan to sit their established starters. This includes Bryce Young, who will not see action under center. Instead, the team will utilize the game to evaluate its depth. Rookie Haynes King is scheduled to enter the game after Pickett exits. Additionally, rookie offensive tackle Monroe Freeling will not suit up, as the team focuses on players competing for roster spots and backup roles.

The matchup is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff on Thursday. The game will be available nationally on the NBC broadcast network and via streaming on Peacock. The broadcast provides visibility for the league’s media partners, including Comcast Corporation, the parent company of NBCUniversal.

Comcast Corporation was trading at $24.57 during the session, representing a market capitalization of approximately $80.91 billion.

What to watch

• Player rotation and snap counts for quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Haynes King.
• Performance of backup players competing for roster spots.

Source: original release