Panthers Bring Back Hunter Renfrow Amid Receiver Shakeup
The Carolina Panthers have made a noteworthy move to adjust their wide receiver depth, and it involves a familiar face. Hunter Renfrow, the veteran wideout best known for his time with the Las Vegas Raiders and his college career at Clemson, has agreed to terms with Carolina. The decision comes just as the Panthers are reshuffling their receiving group due to injuries and roster changes.
The timing of this signing was no coincidence. Earlier in the week, wide receiver Jalen Coker suffered a quad injury during practice. That setback is expected to sideline him for four to six weeks, and the Panthers quickly placed him on injured reserve. Coker had been projected to play a bigger role this season, especially after Adam Thielen was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. Thielen had been one of Carolina’s top producers last year, recording over 600 receiving yards and five touchdowns, so the hope had been that Coker would step into that slot role. Instead, the injury opened the door for Renfrow’s return.
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Renfrow’s story makes this move even more compelling. He was part of the Panthers’ final roster cuts just days ago, but his background and experience made him an obvious choice to bring back in an emergency situation. Over five NFL seasons with the Raiders, Renfrow tallied 269 receptions for nearly 2,900 yards and 17 touchdowns. His reliability as a slot receiver and knack for finding open space on third downs earned him a reputation as one of the league’s most dependable targets.
However, Renfrow’s career faced a major hurdle when he missed the entire 2024 season. He was sidelined by ulcerative colitis, a serious health condition that caused dramatic weight loss and constant fatigue. At one point, his weight dropped to 150 pounds, and he endured fevers that lingered for days at a time. By his own admission, the illness “kicked his butt pretty good.” Now recovered and looking to re-establish himself, he gets a fresh opportunity in Carolina on a one-year contract reportedly worth up to $3 million with incentives.
For the Panthers, this move is as much about stability as it is about production. With first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan nursing a hamstring injury but expected back soon, and Xavier Legette and David Moore already established as key contributors, Renfrow provides veteran presence and depth. He may not be the explosive downfield threat, but his ability to make tough catches and move the chains could be invaluable as quarterback Bryce Young develops.
In short, the Panthers’ receiving corps looks very different from just a week ago. Coker is sidelined, Thielen is gone, and Renfrow is back. As Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars approaches, Carolina’s offense will be leaning on a mix of young talent and a veteran comeback story to keep things moving.
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