Damiere Byrd

Damiere Byrd (born January 27, 1993) is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers in 2015. Byrd has also been a member of the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers.

Damiere Byrd
refer to caption
Byrd with the Carolina Panthers in 2016
No. 14 – Atlanta Falcons
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1993-01-27) January 27, 1993[1]
Erial, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school:Timber Creek Regional
(Erial, New Jersey)
College:South Carolina (2011–2014)
Undrafted:2015
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Receptions:130
Receiving yards:1,689
Receiving touchdowns:7
Return yards:466
Returning touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

College career

Byrd played wide receiver for the South Carolina Gamecocks football team as a true freshman in 2011. After his senior season in 2014, Byrd had amassed 1265 yards on 68 receptions (18.6 yards/catch) with 10 touchdowns.

Byrd was considered the fastest player on the team while at South Carolina and also competed for the South Carolina track team.

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 9+1⁄8 in
(1.76 m)		 173 lb
(78 kg)		 29+7⁄8 in
(0.76 m)		 8 in
(0.20 m)		4.28 s1.51 s2.54 s4.03 s6.60 s42.0 in
(1.07 m)		10 ft 11 in
(3.33 m)		13 reps
All values from Pro Day[2][3]

On the South Carolina Pro Day, Byrd only ran the 40-yard dash once, since his left calf muscle tightened up on him. Byrd, having a track & field background, was able to put up impressive numbers, completing the short shuttle in 4.03 seconds, the three-cone in 6.6 seconds and the 60-yard long shuttle in 10.90 seconds, faster than any other time posted at the 2015 scouting combine.[2]

Carolina Panthers

On May 8, 2015, Byrd was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers. On September 5, 2015, he was released by the Panthers.[4] On September 7, 2015, Byrd was signed to the Panthers' practice squad, where he spent the rest of his rookie season.[5] On February 7, 2016, Byrd's Panthers played in Super Bowl 50. In the game, the Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10.[6]

2016

Byrd signed a reserve/futures contract with the Panthers on February 9, 2016.

Byrd made the initial 53-man roster in 2016 but was inactive for the first five games before being released on October 14, 2016.[7] He was re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[8] He was promoted back to the active roster on December 29, 2016.[9]

2017

On October 1, 2017, during the second quarter of a game versus the New England Patriots, Byrd broke his left arm on a reverse play. He was subsequently placed on the injured reserve two days later.[10] He was activated off injured reserve to the active roster on December 2, 2017.[11] In Week 16, Byrd returned a kickoff 103 yards, a franchise record, and scored the Panthers' first kickoff-return touchdown since 2011 which was crucial in the 22–19 win over the Buccaneers, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[12] However during the second half of the game, Byrd suffered a lower leg injury and subsequently was placed on injured reserve on December 26, 2017.[13]

2018

Byrd entered the 2018 season as the Panthers primary punt returner. He played in eight games before suffering a broken arm in Week 12. He was placed on injured reserve on November 27, 2018.[14]

Arizona Cardinals

On March 26, 2019, Byrd signed with the Arizona Cardinals.[15] He played in 11 games with three starts, recording a career-high 32 catches for 359 yards and one touchdown.[16]

New England Patriots

On March 23, 2020, Byrd signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots.[17]

In Week 11 against the Houston Texans, Byrd recorded six catches for 132 yards and a touchdown during the 27–20 loss.[18]

Byrd finished the season playing in 16 games with 47 receptions, 604 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, and 2 rushing attempts for 15 yards.[19]

Chicago Bears

On May 4, 2021, Byrd signed with the Chicago Bears.[20] In the Week 14 game against the Green Bay Packers, Byrd caught a 54 yard touchdown pass from Justin Fields.

Atlanta Falcons

On April 1, 2022, Byrd signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.[21] On October 22, in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Byrd recorded his first touchdown of the season on a 75–yard reception from Marcus Mariota.[22]

Carolina Panthers (second stint)

On April 14, 2023, Byrd signed with the Carolina Panthers.[23] He was placed on injured reserve on August 16, 2023.[24] He was released on August 25.

Atlanta Falcons (second stint)

On October 19, 2023, Byrd was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.[25]

References
  1. Fox Sports. "Damiere Byrd". foxsports.com.
  2. Brandt, Gil (April 1, 2015). "Damiere Byrd of South Carolina runs 4.28 40 on grass". NFL.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  3. "Damiere Byrd, South Carolina, WR, 2015 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  4. Henson, Max (September 5, 2015). "Panthers trim roster to 53". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  5. "WR Bersin among 10 set to join practice squad". Panthers.com. September 6, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  6. "Super Bowl 50 – Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers – February 7th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  7. "Panthers sign Wes Horton, waive Damiere Byrd". Panthers.com. October 14, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  8. "Panthers promote CB Lou Young". Panthers.com. October 15, 2016. Archived from the original on January 14, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  9. Strickland, Bryan (December 29, 2016). "Devin Funchess placed on IR; Damiere Byrd promoted". Panthers.com. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  10. "Panthers sign safety Jairus Byrd". Panthers.com. October 3, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  11. Igoe, Stephen (December 2, 2017). "Panthers sign Zach Moore to active roster, activate Damiere Byrd". 247Sports.com. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  12. Maya, Adam (December 27, 2017). "Todd Gurley, Dion Lewis among NFL Players of Week". NFL.com. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  13. Henson, Max (December 26, 2017). "Damiere Byrd placed on injured reserve". Panthers.com. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  14. "Damiere Byrd placed on injured reserve; Lorenzo Doss promoted". Panthers.com. November 27, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  15. Urban, Darren (March 26, 2019). "Cardinals Sign Wide Receiver Damiere Byrd". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  16. "Damiere Byrd 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  17. Williams, Charean (March 17, 2020). "Damiere Byrd agrees to one-year deal with Patriots". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  18. "New England Patriots at Houston Texans – November 22nd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  19. NFL.com staff. "Damiere Byrd". www.nfl.com. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  20. "Roster Move: Bears sign WR Damiere Byrd". www.chicagobears.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  21. Bair, Scott (April 1, 2022). "Falcons sign speedy receiver Damiere Byrd". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  22. "WATCH: Damiere Byrd, Marcus Mariota Connect on 75-Yard Falcons Touchdown". si.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  23. "Panthers sign wide receiver Damiere Byrd". Panthers.com. April 14, 2023.
  24. "Panthers sign Collin Duncan, place Damiere Byrd on IR". NBCSports.com. August 16, 2023.
  25. "Falcons bring veteran WR Damiere Byrd back to practice squad". The Falcoholic. SB Nation. October 19, 2023.
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