Former Patriots Wideout Heads Back To AFC East On Short-Term Deal

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Damiere Byrd had the best season of his eight-year NFL career playing in the AFC East.

He surely will hope a second go-around in the division will bring him similar production. But it won’t come with the Patriots.

Byrd is now getting ready to catch passes from star quarterback Josh Allen after he signed a one-year deal Tuesday to join the Buffalo Bills.

Byrd spent just one season with the Patriots in 2020 and turned in a career campaign even with Cam Newton, who was in the twilight of his career at that point, quarterbacking New England’s offense. Byrd recorded 47 receptions for 604 yards and one touchdown during his lone season with the Patriots.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound speedster bounced around the NFL since departing New England. He played one season with the Chicago Bears in 2021 and the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, but didn’t see the same success he obtained with the Patriots by catching just 39 passes over the last three years. The Falcons released Byrd at the end of last season and he spent a very quick cup of coffee in the Houston Texans organization.

The Washington Commanders initially signed Byrd in the offseason, but released him two weeks ago, making him up for grabs and allowing the Bills to take a chance on the veteran wideout.

Byrd will now use the rest of the preseason to fight for a roster spot in Buffalo’s new-look wide receiver unit. The Bills traded Stefon Diggs this offseason while they signed Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency and drafted Florida State product Keon Coleman with the No. 33 overall pick in the NFL draft.

Byrd will have to make a good and quick impression with the Bills as rosters need to be finalized for all NFL teams by Aug. 27.