The long wait for NFL football is finally over, folks. Sure, it might technically be just the 2026 NFL preseason that is kicking off on Thursday evening in the annual Hall of Fame Game, but football is football.
The annual Hall of Fame Game, which has been played in Canton, Ohio since 1962, will feature the Arizona Cardinals taking on the Carolina Panthers. There are a total of four former South Carolina players on both teams, including three on the Panthers and one on the Cardinals.
For Arizona, the Cardinals have wide receiver Jalen Brooks, who is in his second season with Arizona. For the Panthers, Gamecock fans likely will not see the likes of wide receiver Xavier Legette, cornerback Jaycee Horn or linebacker Bam Martin-Scott.
That's because Carolina head coach Dave Canales said that he does not expect his usual starters to suit up, as expected.
“Yeah, no starters,” Canales said via NBC Sports earlier this week of Thursday's game. “There are some competition battles for starting positions where guys will have an opportunity to play a little bit. But some of the guys we’re expecting to be out there right off the bat, I think we won’t play those guys in this game.”
While preseason games are largely reserved for first-year rookie or guys lower on the depth chart to make their case for making the 53-man roster or practice squads, there is a chance we see Brooks suit up for the Cardinals. He enters Arizona's training camp largely on the roster bubble.
He is entering his fourth season in the NFL, and 2026 marks his second with the Cardinals. He started his career with the Dallas Cowboys, where he played in 21 games across two seasons. He caught 18 receptions for just 241 yards and a touchdown. Brooks started 2025 on Dallas' practice squad, but was elevated to the active roster in Week 5 against the New York Jets. But after suffering a knee injury in the game, he was later released by Dallas at the end of October with an injury settlement.
He joined Arizona's practice squad shortly thereafter, and was promoted to the active roster in mid-December due to receiver injuries that plagued the Cardinals. He played in just five games, logging three receptions for six yards on the season. Given his current position on Arizona's depth chart, he could use some big plays against the Panthers to have a shot at making the Cardinals' roster.
Arizona is rebuilding under new head coach Matt LaFleur, after the Cardinals finished 15-36 in three seasons with head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Thursday night's game will begin at 8 p.m. ET and air live on NBC. The game will also be live streamed on Peacock.
After Thursday night's HOF game, there is plenty of NFL preseason action to watch starting the week after. Thursday, Aug. 13 will feature six preseason games, including Lions-Bengals, Packers-Steelers, Colts-Patriots, Cardinals-Raiders, Chargers-Texans and Titans-49ers.
Packers rookie Brandon Cisse already competing for starting job in Green Bay secondary
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