Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker begins the NFL season in the starting unit.
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 21: Jalen Coker #18 of the Carolina Panthers lines up during the first half an NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Bank of America Stadium on August 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
Just under a week before the start of the regular season, the Carolina Panthers have been hit with a significant blow to start the season.
According toAdam Schefter, wide receiver Jalen Coker is being placed on the IR to start the season with a quad injury. In a corresponding move, veteran wide receiver Hunter Renfrow hasbeen re-signed to thePanthers’ active roster.
Coker’s injury and absenceare heightened due to the Panthers losing depth at the receiver position following the trade of Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings earlier this week. Coker, himself, was having a standout Summer in training camp.
Rising Star
Over the course of training camp, Coker developed an increasingly growing connection with quarterback Bryce Young. The two were developing their chemistry towards the end of last season, highlighted by a 100-yard performance from Coker against the Dallas Cowboys.
Earlier this month, in training camp, Kassidy Hill ofPanthers.com wrote about in her August 6 article how impressed Panthers head coach Dave Canales had been withCoker’s preparation coming into the season.
“I think Jalen has taken full advantage of the five weeks that we had off since the spring,”Canales said.
“In OTAs, he kind of just was ramping up,kind of getting a plan for his readiness, and he came back a different athlete. I have to say, of all the guys, Jalen really did a great job of just working on his transition, his speed, his body comp, his readiness for practice, and all that, and I thinkhe’s just taking steps.”
Coker also connected with Young on touchdown receptions in thePanthers’ first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Now, the Panthers will have to wait and see if Coker can take the next leap in his career this season.
Return of Renfrow
With Jalen Cokerbeing placed on IR, it opened the door for the return of Hunter Renfrow. Renfrow is making a comeback to the NFL after being out of the league all of 2024.
The veteran receiver impressed early in training camp, but faded a little as camp went on. Still, following his release, the door was left open for his return to the team.
Darin Gantt ofPanthers.com detailed in an August 27 article how Dave Canales was open to Renfrow returning and how he enjoyed working with him.
“We’re just talking about everything right now,”Canales said. “I just want to be a part of his future, of what he wants to do. I just told him that, like in whatever capacity that is, whetherit’s the 53 or practice squad, that was just kind of the conversations.”
“I‘m just talking about wanting to be a part of him, like the guy that I remember,” Canales continued. “And I think thathe’s on his way back there, and I truly believe that, and I believe in him as a guy. I had such a blast working with him in this short amount of time, butI’d love to see him back out there at some point, and soit’s just a matter of us continuing to stay in touch and see wherewe’re at.”
Renfrow’s return now makes him the most experienced receiver on the Panthers, andhis presence will be needed for a young receiver group following AdamThielen’s trade andCoker’s IR stint.