Though football returns tonight as the Carolina Panthers take on the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL Hall of Fame Game is expected to feature few big names on either side.
Already confirmed for the Panthers vs. Cardinals Hall of Fame Game is that neither team will have their starting QBs taking the field, with Carolina starting former first-round pick Kenny Pickett and Arizona going with rookie Carson Beck behind center.
Ahead of tonight's 8 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC, here's a look at who will — and won't — be taking the field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
NFL Hall of Fame Game lineup: Quarterbacks
Both Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales and Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur have made it clear who will be their top quarterbacks tonight. For Carolina, it's fifth-year veteran Kenny Pickett; for Arizona, it's third-round rookie Carson Beck.
Neither team will have its starting quarterback under center tonight, and Arizona is also expected to sit top backup Gardner Minshew. Even so, the quarterback situation in Canton remains one of the biggest storylines heading into the matchup.
Pickett has a history of playing like a Pro Football Hall of Famer in meaningless games (he has a 116.7 NFL passer rating in his preseason career), and his backup could be just as exciting.
Undrafted rookie Haynes King is likely to play at least a half, and his mobility — 36 rushing touchdowns in three years at Georgia Tech — is why I'm backing him to find the end zone in my Panthers vs. Cardinals predictions.
As for Arizona, without Jacoby Brissett or Minshew, Beck could play deep into the second half. It's LaFleur's first real live look at his rookie, whom the Cardinals drafted 65th overall for a reason.
And with backup Kedon Slovis unlikely to make the roster, there's not a ton of purpose for LaFleur to go to him before halftime.
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Who’s sitting out? Key players not expected to play
With this being an extra preseason game for both the Panthers and Cardinals, combined with the growing trend of teams limiting — or completely resting — their starters during the preseason, don't expect to see many key veterans on either side tonight.
Both teams are expected to sit 30+ players, essentially every starter.
Top players not expected to play in NFL Hall of Fame Game:
 Panthers offense |
Panthers defense |
 Cardinals offense |
Cardinals defense |
| Bryce Young, QB | Derrick Brown, DL | Jacoby Brissett, QB | Budda Baker, SAF |
| Tetairoa McMillan, WR | Devin Lloyd, LB | Jeremiyah Love, RB | Walter Nolen III, DL |
| Chuba Hubbard, RB | Jaycee Horn, CB | Marvin Harrison Jr., WR | Will Johnson, CB |
| Jonathon Brooks, RB | Tre'Von Moehrig, SAF | Michael Wilson, WR | Zaven Collins, LB |
| Jalen Coker, WR | Jaelan Phillips, EDGE | Trey McBride, TE | Cody Simon, LB |
| Robert Hunt, OG | Mike Jackson, CB | Paris Johnson Jr., OT | Darius Robinson, DL |
Injured key players not playing:
Panthers: Chris Brazzell II (WR), Ikem Ekwonu (OT), Taylor Moton (OT), Tershawn Wharton (DL), Nic Scourton (EDGE). Cardinals: James Conner (RB), Josh Sweat (EDGE), Garrett Williams (CB), Kaleb Proctor (DL).
Rookies to watch in NFL Hall of Fame Game
The marquee rookie to watch tonight would have been fourth overall pick Jeremiyah Love, but it's already been announced that the Notre Dame product will not be taking the field for the Cardinals.
However, both teams have a rookie QB that's expected to be the focus of tonight's action in Beck and King, who our Panthers vs. Cardinals AI predictions project to lead their teams in passing yards.
Other rookies to watch:
| Panthers rookies to watch |
Cardinals rookies to watch |
| Lee Hunter, DL | Reggie Virgil, WR |
| Sam Hecht, OC | Jayden Williams, OT |
| Zakee Wheatley, SAF | Karson Sharar, LB |
| Will Lee III, CB | Damonic Williams, DL |
| Jackson Kuwatch, LB | Harrison Wallace III, WR |
How lineup news impacts the odds
Since it's LaFleur's first game as Cardinals head coach and Arizona has a rookie QB starting, Carolina enters as a 1.5-point favorite in the Hall of Fame Game odds.
With Carolina having the combo of coaching continuity and a veteran QB who's seen plenty of preseason success, the Panthers are the popular team to back, according to our NFL Hall of Fame Game expert picks.
And with so many of the biggest names out, both teams are likely to lean on their ground game, which is why the main focus of our Panthers vs. Cardinals prop picks is the running backs.
Football is football, and we've got you covered for how to bet on the NFL Hall of Fame Game tonight.
