CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Kenny Pickett will be the team’s lab rat.
As they experiment with Brad Idzik becoming the Panthers’ primary offensive playcaller in 2026, Pickett will be the first to experience the way the offensive coordinator engineers an in-game offensive possession.
With No. 1 QB Bryce Young, along with most of the other first-teamers, not expected to dress for Thursday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, Pickett will get the start against the Arizona Cardinals.
After handling occasional preseason playcalling duties the previous two seasons, Idzik has yet to run a regular-season drive. With four preseason outings this summer, the extra outing could prove important for him to test what works for him durign play calls – and what doesn’t.
Following Tuesday’s NFL training camp practice, Pickett, who worked with Idzik throughout the offseason program, sounded confident the two will mesh during the exhibition opener at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
The 2020 No. 20 overall draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers sounded surprised after being reminded Idzik was a rookie playcaller.
“I wouldn’t, if I didn’t know, you know?” Pickett said after Tuesday’s practice. “Preseason games were awesome for everybody to kind of get that feel back in the stadium, playing, you know, real football.”
prepping for NFL debut
Pickett is expected to play the first few series, before allowing Haynes King to close it out. The undrafted rookie told reporters Tuesday that he remained eager to “showcase my ability. I haven’t played at this level yet.
“Just to go out there and to do it with the guys that I was working (with), whether it was training camp, OTAs, all that stuff. To finally go out there in a game setting, it’s going to be pretty exciting.”
A dual-threat standout at Georgia Tech, King earned the ACC Offensive Player of the Year honor, amassing a program-record 3.920 total yards.
A priortity after the April draft, the Panthers inked King for a guarenteed $250,000. With him firmly entrenched as the No. 3 QB, the Panthers’ brass has been content with limiting the QB room to a power trio.
Panthers coach Dave Canales scolded the early tempo of Tuesday’s practice, pausing to press a message.
“The first drill, I just really wasn’t happy,” Canales said. “We can chase better. We can cover down better. We have a standard. The players have a standard.
“When they’re not picking it up and talking to each other, it’s my job to make sure that we just get it back on track.”
The emotions ticked up and fight between tight end Feleipe Franks and cornerback Mike Jackson developed during drills. In the midst of the melee, Franks’ helmet was tossed, via Jackson, across the practice field behind Bank of America Stadium.
Canales paused the practice session again, this time to ease their emotions and remind them to play the “right way.”
“I told them to calm down,” Canales said. “I want them to refocus. I don’t want guys relaxed. I want them engaged. It’s two different feelings.
“You can’t play this game calm. This game is meant to be played at a high clip, with intensity and great focus. If we can have that type of engagement and focus, that’s what we’re looking for.”
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