NFC South reunions have defined Damiere Byrd‘s 2023. The veteran receiver returned to the Panthers earlier this year, but an injury nixed his path back to a role in Charlotte. Months later, a Falcons return will commence.
The veteran wide receiver signed a practice squad deal with the Falcons on Thursday. Byrd, 30, spent last season with Atlanta, signing as a free agent during the 2022 offseason. He is now back in Georgia as a potential backup option.
An injury settlement allowed Byrd to relocate for a second time this year. Byrd signed with the Panthers in mid-April and began training camp with his original NFL team. But a hamstring injury Frank Reich called “significant” led Byrd to IR. Landing on IR before the season prevented Byrd from being eligible for activation as a Panther, and the parties agreed on an injury settlement in late August. This moved Byrd back to free agency, and it appears his hamstring injury has healed.
Byrd initially signed with the Falcons on a one-year, $1.32MM deal. Now attached to a practice squad salary, the South Carolina alum will have a chance to play for the same team in consecutive years for the first time since 2017-18. Since his Panthers rookie contract expired, Byrd has been an NFL nomad. The 5-foot-9 pass catcher moved to Arizona, New England, Chicago and Atlanta from 2019-22.
While Byrd’s best season (47 catches, 604 yards) came back with Cam Newton — when the two ex-Panthers teamed up on a Patriots one-off — he produced his top per-catch number with the Falcons. Byrd averaged 20.6 yarders per reception last year, amassing 268 yards and two touchdowns in Arthur Smith‘s offense. The Falcons have a player familiar with their offense back in the fold, which should accelerate a potential elevation to the active roster.
The Falcons have added two veterans to their receiving corps over the past two weeks, having traded for Van Jefferson as well. The team’s Drake London-fronted wideout crew features offseason additions Mack Hollins and Scotty Miller, along with KhaDarel Hodge, who re-signed this year. To make room for Byrd on their 16-man taxi squad, the Falcons placed wide receiver Keilahn Harris on the practice squad injured list.
