Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - With the Buffalo Bills facing some depth concerns at the wide receiver position, the team has dipped into the free agent market to replenish its competition this training camp.
As first reported by ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler on Monday, the Bills have signed wide receiver Damiere Byrd, who was recently let go of by the Washington Commanders back on July 31. In addition, the team has added wideout Deon Cain to the fold.
Byrd was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers out of the University of South Carolina following the 2015 NFL Draft.
In 76 career games with the Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons, the 31-year-old has recorded 130 receptions on 206 targets for 1,689 yards and seven touchdowns.
While it has been a few years, Byrd also has experience as a kick and punt returner, returning 15 career punts and 14 career kickoffs,
Byrd's best season in the NFL came in 2020 with the Patriots, where he played in all 16 games that season, recording 47 catches for 604 yards and a touchdown.
He has also spent time with the Commanders this offseason, as well as the Houston Texans' practice squad as a late addition for the playoffs last year.
As for Cain, the 28-year-old was originally a sixth-round pick (185th overall) of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Clemson University.
Over his seven-year professional career, Cain has spent time with the Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL, reeling in just nine career catches for 124 yards.
Where Cain has excelled over the last couple of years is with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL and UFL.
In 2023, Cain ended up catching 16 passes with the Stallions for 182 yards and a pair of scores in the USFL. He helped Birmingham win a USFL title that spring with an MVP performance in the championship game with three touchdown receptions.
This past season in Birmingham, now part of the UFL, Cain continued his success with 33 receptions for 436 yards and three scores. The Stallions also went on to win the UFL championship in 2024.
Byrd and Cain join the Bills as the team recently placed wideout Chase Claypool (toe) on Injured Reserve and waived/injured wide receiver Bryan Thompson (hamstring). Claypool was injured and unable to participate in team activities since early on in training camp, while Thompson suffered his injury in Saturday's preseason loss to the Bears.
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The Bills will next take part in a joint practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday before both teams play their second preseason game of the year at Acrisure Stadium.
