Who Should I Start? Damiere Byrd or Diontae Johnson

Wednesday, January 17, 12:31 PM

The Houston Texans signed free-agent veteran wide receiver Damiere Byrd to their practice squad on Wednesday. Byrd was released from the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad in late November after playing in just one game for the team in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings, when he failed to catch either of his two targets while playing 19 offensive snaps. In 14 games for the Falcons in 2022, he caught 13 of his 23 targets for 268 yards and two touchdowns. The 30-year-old will give the Texans some extra receiver depth for their Divisional Round game this Saturday after they placed Noah Brown (shoulder) on Injured Reserve earlier in the week. Byrd has played in 76 NFL games (28 starts) over eight seasons and has 130 catches for 1,689 yards and seven touchdowns in his career.

Tuesday, March 12, 7:35 PM

The Carolina Panthers acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson and pick No. 240 overall in this year's NFL draft from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and pick No. 178 overall in this year's draft, according to sources. The move leaves the Steelers dangerously thin at the receiver position, with George Pickens and Calvin Austin III as the team's top two wideouts with Johnson gone. Johnson, 27, finished last year with a career-low 51 catches for 717 yards and five touchdowns. He'll move to a Panthers offense desperately seeking playmakers and should be one of quarterback Bryce Young's top targets, other than veteran Adam Thielen. Johnson's chances for a fantasy rebound in 2024 don't look great in Carolina, but perhaps he can develop some nice chemistry with Young and feed off volume.