But he also didn't intend to hit the receiver.

I think his intent all along was to run right past the receiver and distract him from catching the ball, causing a muff.

I've seen the same thing on the BBall court - a defender that runs at and then past a shooter hoping to cause them to be off and/or take their eye off the ball.

He was going to go right down the side to the left of the receiver up until he was shoved to the right.