CANTON, Ohio — Maybe a team should have drafted Haynes King. The undrafted rookie quarterback delivered a fairy-tale finish in the NFL’s preseason opener, plunging into the end zone from the 5-yard line on the final play to lift the Carolina Panthers past the Arizona Cardinals, 33-30, in the Hall of Fame game Thursday night.

King, fresh off an ACC Player of the Year campaign at Georgia Tech, showed poise beyond his years. He went 21 of 34 for 180 yards, threw two touchdowns, and ran for 39 yards — including the game-winner that sent the crowd into a frenzy. “Well, that was a lot of fun. Just the back and forth of it. Just a really good game,” said Panthers coach Dave Canales. “The guys were resilient, and finish is what we preach as a team. We practice for these situations, end of half, end of game. … Haynes did a fantastic job, just keeping the play alive, doing whatever he had to do, run it, throw it. Really proud of the group.”

The game was a showcase for backup quarterbacks, as both teams opted to rest their starters. For the Panthers, Bryce Young watched from the sideline, cheering King on. For the Cardinals, veteran Jacoby Brissett and journeyman Gardner Minshew stayed on the bench, giving way to rookies and young guns.

Carson Beck, Arizona’s third-round pick from Miami, had a stellar debut. The former Hurricane, who led Miami to the national championship game last season, completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. He orchestrated a textbook 98-yard drive, hitting Jalen Brooks for a 35-yard strike on third-and-7 from the Cardinals’ own 7, then a 49-yard deep ball, before tossing a 5-yard TD pass to Simi Fehoko. “It was a cool environment, and for him to just kind of — it’s just another game, and that’s the way he took it,” said first-year Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur. “He’s been in big ones, and that’s how his mindset works.”

After Beck exited, Kedon Slovis nearly stole the spotlight. The former USC and BYU signal-caller went 9 of 10 for 106 yards, capping a drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Green with 1:55 remaining, putting Arizona up 30-27. But King had other plans.

Facing third-and-14 on the game-winning drive, King scrambled for 26 yards, keeping the chains moving. He then found Anthony Tyus III for a 4-yard touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter, and earlier connected with Ja’seem Reed for a 15-yard score in the second. King’s leadership and mobility impressed Canales. “These are things that he did throughout his career,” Canales said. “The bottom line is move the chains.”

King is expected to be the Panthers’ third-string quarterback behind Young and veteran Kenny Pickett, who started the game and went 8 of 11 for 62 yards before giving way to King. The Panthers, who won the NFC South last season at 8-9 and lost to the Rams in the wild-card round, are looking for depth behind their young starter.

On the Cardinals’ side, expectations are low in a division that features the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks, along with the Rams and 49ers. But if Beck continues to develop under LaFleur, he could see playing time. Canales had high praise for the opposing rookie: “He operated like a professional. He looked fantastic. He was accurate. He was on time. Our rush was decent. He got the ball out, threw some really beautiful passes down the field, up the sideline on some double moves, over the middle, to keep the drive alive in some third-down situations, so tip my hat to him.”

Notably, the Cardinals’ top draft pick, running back Jeremiyah Love (No. 3 overall), sat out despite hoping to persuade LaFleur to let him play. The game also featured several off-field moments. The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 — Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Adam Vinatieri, Larry Fitzgerald, and Luke Kuechly — was honored. Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made his debut as a studio analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America.” Cardinals players wore red T-shirts with Fitzgerald’s No. 11, and the wide receiver expressed gratitude: “It’s a great feeling to know your organization stands behind you. I’m really happy they would honor me like this.”

Additionally, Brissett and All-Pro tight end Trey McBride saw their jerseys displayed in the Hall of Fame Museum after setting records last season — McBride’s 126 receptions (most ever by a tight end) and Brissett’s 47 completions in a game against San Francisco on Nov. 16.

Looking ahead, the Panthers travel to Buffalo on Aug. 15, while the Cardinals head to Las Vegas on Aug. 13.