Kenny Pickett Named Panthers' Starter for Hall of Fame Game vs Cardinals
Kenny Pickett will start over Bryce Young in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game as the Panthers face the Cardinals in Canton, Ohio.
The Carolina Panthers are set to name Kenny Pickett their starter for the Hall of Fame Game against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday. This marks a significant change, as Pickett replaces the franchise's quarterback Bryce Young. Pickett, once considered a potential savior during his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was selected 20th overall in the 2022 draft out of the University of Pittsburgh.
After two challenging seasons with the Steelers, he has since played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders. In his two starts with the Raiders last season, he completed just 28 of 45 passes for 188 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. With the Panthers, Pickett was brought in to compete for the backup position to Young, who played his best season in 2025, completing 63.6% of his passes.
The game serves as an early opportunity to assess Pickett's role as the team's QB2 ahead of the 2026 season, as well as to test the depth of the Panthers' younger players.
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