Carolina Panthers reach injury settlement with wide receiver Damiere Byrd

The Carolina Panthers reached an injury settlement on Friday afternoon with their former wide receiver, Damiere Byrd, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston reported. Since he signed an injury settlement with the team, it releases him from the injured reserve list, making him a free agent. For more on the injury he suffered in fall camp, check out the article from On3’s Nikki Chavanelle.

After finding his way back to the Carolina Panthers this offseason, wide receiver Damiere Byrd suffered a “significant” injury in training camp ahead of the first preseason game versus the Jets on Saturday, August 12th. The injury will require surgery, but isn’t believed to be season-ending, according to reports.

Entering this offseason as a free agent, the former South Carolina standout signed with the Panthers for one year and $1.3 million.

Byrd initially 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 has 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 played for the Gamecocks from 2011 to 2014, totaling 68 catches and 10 touchdowns in four seasons. He was the fastest player on the team during his time there and made his mark in the NFL over the years as a deep threat and field stretcher. He also hauled in 1,265 receiving yards in 47 career games for South Carolina.

A dynamic track and field athlete as well, Byrd placed sixth at the 2012 SEC indoor championships.

As a high school prospect, Byrd played for Timber Creek Regional High School (Erial, New Jersey) in 2011, where he piled up more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage as a senior. He won the state indoor 55-meter crown as a sophomore in 6.39 seconds. According to the On3 Industry Rankings for the 2011 cycle, Byrd was rated as the No. 231 overall prospect in the country and a four-star recruit.

On3’s Nikki Chavanelle also contributed to this article.