The Bears on Tuesday signed veteran free-agent receiver Damiere Byrd to a one-year contract.
Byrd, 28, has appeared in 44 NFL games with 20 starts over five seasons with the Panthers (2016-18), Cardinals (2019) and Patriots (2020), catching 91 passes for 1,092 yards and four touchdowns.
The 5-9, 180-pounder has also averaged 25.2 yards on 14 kickoff returns with one touchdown and 8.1 yards on 14 punt returns.
Byrd entered the NFL in 2015 with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent from South Carolina. Three of his four career touchdowns came in back-to-back games late in the 2017 season. He returned a kickoff 103 yards for a score in a 22-19 win over the Buccaneers and followed a week later with TD receptions of 9 and 13 yards from Cam Newton in a 31-24 victory over the Packers.
Last season in New England, Byrd established career highs with 16 games played, 14 starts, 47 receptions and 604 yards.