Carolina Panthers sign wide receiver Damiere Byrd for 2023 season

Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Damiere Byrd has found his way back to the squad, the team announced on Friday.

Byrd signed as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers in 2015, where he spent his first three seasons. With the Cardinals, he got his first big break, catching 32 passes for 359 yards.

Byrd played the 2022 season with the Atlanta Falcons. He had 13 catches in 14 games played, totaling 268 yards and two touchdowns.

Since leaving the Gamecocks, Byrd’s played for the Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. After a career-best year with the Patriots, when he totaled 47 catches for 604 yards and a score, he took a one-year deal with the Bears.

With Chicago, he finished fourth on the team in receiving yards with 329 yards on 26 receptions with one touchdown. His single touchdown with the Bears came on a 54-yard play versus the rival Green Bay Packers.

Damiere Byrd played for the Gamecocks from 2011 to 2014, totaling 68 catches and 10 touchdowns in four seasons.

More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2023 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially ran out, making those players free agents. There were 722 players due to hit free agency in 2023.

Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7.

The legal negotiation period spanned from March 13 through March 15. The new year marked the beginning of all trades going official per the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 26, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits.