Atlanta Falcons Bring Back Familiar Face, Sign WR Damiere Byrd to Practice Squad
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The Atlanta Falcons are welcoming back a familiar face.
According to team reporter Tori McElhaney, the Falcons are signing Damiere Byrd to the practice squad.
Byrd, 30, was on the Carolina Panthers practice squad for the first six weeks of the season after being cut by the team following training camp.
Last season, Byrd caught 13 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard score from quarterback Marcus Mariota in Week 7. Byrd gives the Falcons a deep threat to work with in an offense with a lot of different weapons.
Atlanta Falcons receiver Damiere Byrd
USA Today Sports
"Yeah, I think when you’re talking about backing people off, safeties or whatnot. Damiere [Byrd] did," coach Arthur Smith said. "That one was a two-minute situation before the half in Cincinnati. ... Certainly it does help because you have to know the guy can launch it 60 yards, and you have a guy that can legitimately go get it.”
Overall, the speedster Byrd has 130 career receptions, 1,689 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in stints with the Arizona Cardinals, Panthers, New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears.
The addition of Byrd, (5-9, 175 pounds) doesn’t mean the end of the Falcons’ search for more production at wide receiver; he is something short of a blue-chip guy, having entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2015.
Though not likely, Byrd will have a chance to be elevated from the practice squad this weekend when the Falcons visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kickoff is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium.
