The Carolina Panthers are doing everything in their power to transform Bryce Young into an elite NFL quarterback. Reports have stated that despite all hands on deck, Young is on “thin ice” with the franchise. The Panthers have only won seven games over the past two seasons. However, the team believes they have a secret weapon to help Young reach his potential.
Cat Crave reported that Panthers head coach Dave Canales is very enthusiastic about providing Bryce Young with an opportunity to succeed. As a result, the Carolina Panthers made some strong moves over the offseason, including a potential secret weapon in wide receiver Hunter Renfrow.
Renfrow impressed the NFL after he caught 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns for the Las Vegas Raiders back in 2021. Unfortunately, Renfrow has not come close to that level of production since. He missed seven games in 2022, and only caught 25 passes in 2023. Renfrow also did not play at in the 2024 NFL season due to ulcerative colitis.
NFL critics are desperate to know what Canales sees in Hunter Renfrow as the one who can help establish Bryce Young as an elite quarterback and change the fates for the Carolina Panthers.
GettyHunter Renfrow was born and raised in the Carolinas. He’s been a Carolina Panthers fan his entire life.
Why is Hunter Renfrow a “Secret Weapon” for the Panthers?
Dave Canales told Panthers.com about Renfrow’s first week at training camp. The Panthers head coach addressed the injuries that have derailed Renfrow’s career, but he still remembers the guy he saw in 2021:
“I mean, it’s just the Hunter Renfrow I remember,” Canales said. “So he looks healthy… I think everyone who’s watched football over the last four or five years remembers what he looks like. And he’s really playing at top form right now. I’m really excited to have him here and to have his family, which is right down the road here after this practice to be able to just connect with him.”
Many NFL critics and fans don’t understand how series ulcerative colitis can be, especially for an athlete. Hunter Renfrow has detailed that it cost him months just to be diagnosed and treated, which left him fatigued and down to 150 pounds at one point. Now, Renfrow is, “Just trying to get back, trying to get healthy, trying to do something I love.”
In a separate interview, Hunter Renfrow shared his thoughts on his comeback with Panthers.com and how his loyalty to the Carolinas runs deeper than Panther fans may think. “I’m from the Carolinas… I was born in Myrtle Beach, went to school at Clemson, and so the opportunity to come back here and be a part of Carolina… The people are special to me. This place is special to me,” Renfrow said.
GettyBryce Young needs Hunter Renfrow healthy to have a reliable, top of the line wide receiver this season.
Can Hunter Renfrow Help Bryce Young Reach the Next Level?
Unfortunately, Hunter Renfrow didn’t practice on Wednesday this week due to a hamstring issue. However, both Canales and Renfrow said he “could have played in a game if necessary.” More importantly, if Hunter Renfrow is the secret weapon for the Carolina Panthers, they need him healthy and productive.
Bryce Young will lean on Renfrow to turn chaos into 3rd down and red zone conversions. Hunter Renfrow offers Young elite route running, a high football IQ, and a safety value on broken plays that made him a star with the Raiders. Renfrow told reporters that this current receiver room for the Panthers is one of the “deepest groups I’ve ever been around.”
Alongside Hunter Renfrow, the Carolina Panthers also used back-to-back first round picks to bring in Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan. In addition, Adam Thielen may want to retire with a bang. Renfrow described the competition for WRs a “gauntlet.”
On paper, the Panthers have a lot to be excited about this season. Hunter Renfrow can be a secret weapon that transforms one of the worst NFL franchises into a competitive team again. That’s not just music to the ears of Bryce Young who desperately needs a good season. It’s music to the ears of the Carolina Panthers franchise who just want to win football games again.
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