Panthers Bring Back Hunter Renfrow as Jalen Coker Lands on IR

The Carolina Panthers made two significant roster moves on Saturday, announcing the return of veteran wide receiver Hunter Renfrow on a one-year deal while placing Jalen Coker on injured reserve with a quad injury.

Coker sustained the injury during Thursday’s practice and will be sidelined for at least the first four games of the season. NFL insider Jordan Schultz noted that the 23-year-old “will be back” this year, offering optimism despite the setback.

General manager Dan Morgan had previously highlighted Coker as the frontrunner to take over the slot role after the team traded Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings last week.

“Any time you lose a receiver like Adam, it’s a big loss,” Morgan said. “But at the same time, we’re really excited about our young core of receivers. Jalen Coker’s going to step into the slot, we’re going to utilize a lot of resources with [Xavier Legette] and [Tetairoa McMillan].”

Coker, an undrafted free agent in 2024, emerged as a surprise contributor in his rookie season with 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns. Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik praised his blend of quickness and power, calling his lateral speed and vertical acceleration “freaky.”

Renfrow Gets Another Shot

With Coker sidelined, Renfrow slides back into the slot role. Less than a week ago, Carolina released the 2021 Pro Bowler after a hamstring injury slowed his progress during training camp. Despite that move, both Morgan and head coach Dave Canales kept in constant contact with the veteran.

“I told him I want him back here,” Morgan said earlier this week. “I talked to his agent, I talked to him. We’re in constant communication. Nothing’s imminent, but we’re going to stay in contact with him and try to figure something out to bring him back here.”

Renfrow is making a comeback after missing the 2024 season. Ulcerative colitis, which left him battling fevers as high as 103 degrees for days at a time, derailed his career in part. The illness, along with a drop in production in 2022 and 2023, nearly pushed him out of football entirely.

“I felt so bad those two years, and I felt like I let my teammates down so much.” Renfrow admitted this spring. “I had expectations. I just signed a new contract and had a new coaching staff that I was going to be perfect for. And I was just a dud. … I was like, ‘Man, I know I don’t feel well, but I do not want to play football again.’”

Still, Renfrow showed flashes of his old form in camp before the release, and his veteran presence adds much-needed experience to a young Panthers wide receiver corps.

What’s Next

The Panthers open their season on Sept. 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where Renfrow will play a prominent role in the slot. Coker, meanwhile, will be eligible to return after Week 4 as Carolina navigates the early weeks of the season with a reshuffled receiver rotation.