Former South Carolina star lands new NFL contract

Former South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Damiere Byrd is heading to his fifth NFL team after agreeing to terms with the Atlanta Falcons on Friday. Byrd signed a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

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.

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.

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

Former South Carolina DB Keisean Nixon leaving Las Vegas

The Green Bay Packers are adding some additional help in their secondary after agreeing to terms with cornerback Keisean Nixon.

“Veteran corner Keisean Nixon, formerly with the Las Vegas Raiders is signing with the Green Bay Packers, per a league source,” NFL reporter Aaron Wilson shared on Twitter.

Nixon went undrafted out of South Carolina in the 2019 NFL Draft and was picked up by the then-Oakland Raiders. The five-foot-ten native of Los Angeles, CA, has spent all three years of his NFL career with the Raiders organization. Nixon leaves Las Vegas after playing in 40 games over his NFL career. He also has recorded 38 tackles, 28 solo, forced two fumbles and has one pass deflection to his name.

With the Gamecocks, Nixon posted 63 total tackles in 2018 and had two interceptions in 2017.

On3’s Justin Rudolph contributed to this report.