Hunter Renfrow showing off his moves
Hunter Renfrow has made a living off of creating space against defenders. While he's been out of the game for a year recovering from ulcerative colitis, the veteran wide receiver has worked his way back to his playing shape and ways, reminding defenses how he notched three seasons of 600-plus yards, including the 2021 season, when he had 1,028 total receiving yards.
During a team drill Thursday, Andy Dalton evaded pressure, scrambling to buy time. Every play till that point had been a short yardage throw, looking for the sticks versus chunk yardage. But as Dalton looked downfield, Renfrow put two defenders into a blender before weaving his way through a hole. Dalton let it fly and with nothing but green grass around him and two defenders trailing far behind, Renfrow pulled in the explosive play.
It spoke to an experience and comfortability that can't be taught.
"Every day you see him shine in different ways. Outside of Adam Thielen, no one's had more catches (in the unit) in the NFL than Hunter," Canales pointed out, of Renfrow's 269 career catches.
"So to see him show up in different ways, attack a zone, attack leverage different ways on his releases, it's so cool because you can coach up that stuff, but to see him be comfortable out there, he makes plays every day and so, it's really exciting."