Undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King ran in on the final play to give the Carolina Panthers a 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame game that kicked off the NFL preseason on Thursday night. 

King, who was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year last season at Georgia Tech, was 21 of 34 for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 39 yards and the winning score.

“Well, that was a lot of fun. Just the back and forth of it. Just a really good game,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said.

“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.”

Carson Beck also had an impressive debut for Arizona. After Beck left, Kedon Slovis tossed a one-yard TD pass to Bryson Green with 1:55 remaining to give the Cardinals a 30-27 lead.

But King rallied the Panthers on a night when both teams didn’t play their starters. Bryce Young was King’s biggest cheerleader on the sideline.

King’s four-yard TD pass to Anthony Tyus III in the opening minute of the fourth quarter put Carolina ahead 24-20. King threw a 15-yard TD pass Ja’seem Reed in the second quarter. He had a 26-yard run on third-and-14 to keep the final drive going.

“These are things that he did throughout his career,” Canales said of King. “The bottom line is move the chains.”

Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett and All-Pro tight end Trey McBride stopped by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum to see their jerseys displayed for breaking records last season.

McBride set an NFL record for receptions by a tight end in a season with 126. Brissett set a record for completions in a game with 47 against San Francisco last November.

We have a competitive day’s racing at Brighton on Friday, live on Sky Sports Racing…

4.00 Brighton – Tenbob Tommy and Lequinto among strong Bullet field

The Harry Bloom Memorial ‘Brighton Bullet’ Handicap is the main event on the final day of the Brighton Summer Festival where Tenbob Tommy headlines 10 runners.

Sheena West’s charge made it two wins from two starts over six-furlongs when claiming a Leicester handicap in April and he should have more to offer with the absence a slight concern.

Lequinto has been kept busy this summer and ran another great race in defeat when runner-up at Windsor 18 days ago. He cannot be ruled out from the same mark.

Marcellinus, Ancient Times and Grey Horizon are all worth closer inspection.

4.30 Brighton – Dragon God and Manhattan Chute seek further success

Dragon God and Manhattan Chute bid for further success in an intriguing Bet In Over 200 Shops Nationwide With Jenningsbet Handicap at 4.30pm.

Tony Carroll saddles Dragon God who broke his duck when scoring at Yarmouth on Sunday and he can continue to be competitive in this grade.

Manhattan Chute doubled his tally for the season when successful at Leicester last month and having been rated higher in the past, he should be feared.

Others to note include the Moore’s last-time course and distance winner Bated Breeze.

5.00 Brighton – Tony Carroll’s Shes Got The Blues features

Shes Got The Blues has been in good spirits of late, winning at Leicester before scoring over this course and distance next time. She could only manage third when not best placed to strike at Windsor and may be involved off this three-pound lower mark.

Jack Channon’s Pennine Way ran her best race yet when third off this mark at Wolverhampton and a repeat would put her in the mix.

Of the others, Superstorm and Arvana Belle make most appeal in a tricky betting heat.

ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. is usually the one who leaves the crowd stunned. But Thursday night at Truist Park, the Braves outfielder was the one left looking a bit astonished.

In the bottom of the third inning — as his Atlanta Braves faced the Miami Marlins — Acuña sent a 78.8-mph sweeper from Miami right-hander Janson Junk out to left-center. The ball flew high into the night, but the home run happened only after it got an assist to clear the wall. Which came from a rather unexpected source.

Marlins center fielder Esteury Ruiz and left fielder Heriberto Hernández rushed to catch the ball, gloves high and outstretched. They collided on the warning track as the ball hit their gloves. It bounced up and into the crowd.

Just like that, a two-run homer.

Circle the bases!@ronaldacunajr24 | #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/abm86taYTp

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 6, 2026

For his part, Acuña looked a bit baffled. He stood and looked around before taking off to celebrate the home run, his 10th of the season. The Braves led the Marlins, 2-0, when the game entered a rain delay at the top of the fourth. Play resumed after a 70-minute pause and the Braves rolled to an 11-3 win.

“That was unbelievable for me,” Acuña said. “Because this was the first time that happened in the game when I was hitting. But that’s good for me and the team.”

Acuña wasn’t done, either. He hit another homer in the eighth inning, and this one left the park without any assistance.

Ronald Acuña Jr. slices one the other way for his 2nd homer of the game 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/iRjbDPohCG

— MLB (@MLB) August 7, 2026

The win was the eighth straight for the Braves, who Friday open a three-game series in New York against the Yankees.

“The second was special,” Acuña said. “Because the first one looked like I needed help. The second one I didn’t need help with. The most important thing is we won eight in a row, so let’s continue with the series in New York.”