Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, after the preseason, did not anticipate being cut by the Carolina Panthers. The situation changed drastically on Tuesday, when the Panthers made the decision to release the 29-year-old player, who was seeking his return to the field after overcoming ulcerative colitis that prevented him from playing the 2024 season, after having been released by the Las Vegas Raiders. Renfrow experienced considerable weight loss, going from 185 to 150 pounds, while battling this chronic digestive disease that causes inflammation and sores in the large intestine. He was on the verge of quitting football altogether, but his former Clemson coach, Dabo Swinney, convinced him to attempt a comeback. Raised about four hours from Charlotte, on the coast of South Carolina, and with two national championships won at Clemson, about two and a half hours away, Renfrow decided that his NFL future would be linked to the Panthers.
During preseason training, Renfrow received praise from Carolina’s coaching staff for his ability to run routes and create separation. However, the Panthers, who kept seven receivers, opted for youth in their rebuilding process. The team decided on rookie Jimmy Horn Jr. and 23-year-old Brycen Tremayne, a former Stanford star who went undrafted in the 2023 draft by the Washington Commanders. Adam Thielen, 35, was also retained, although the Minnesota Vikings have shown interest in acquiring the veteran, who played his first 10 seasons in his home state before signing with Carolina in 2023. Thielen, along with Tetairoa McMillan, 2025 first-round pick, and Xavier Legette, 2024 first-round pick, are considered the starters. Behind them are Jalen Coker, David Moore, Tremayne, and Horn. Renfrow was one of the last cuts and could be a candidate for the practice squad. Currently, he must process what follows, as his focus was entirely on securing a spot on the 53-player roster.I felt really bad those two years, and I felt like I disappointed my teammates a lot. Because I had expectations. I had just signed a new contract [in 2022]. I had a new coaching staff for whom I was going to be perfect. And I was simply a failure.
Hunter Renfrow
Honestly, I don’t lie, I haven’t thought about [being cut], because you can’t. If you worry about those things, you don’t get better.
Hunter Renfrow