A pair of undrafted rookies from South Carolina have landed on NFL practice squads.
Quarterback Dylan Thompson and wide receiver Damiere Byrd, both cut earlier in the week as teams reduced to 53-man rosters for the regular season, were retained as practice squad players Sunday by the San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers, respectively.
The 10-man squads are reserved for rookies or first-year players who will be able to attend all meetings and practices, but are not allowed to dress for home games or travel to road contests. Former Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw was named to the Cleveland Browns practice squad last year, and was called up to start the season finale due to injuries suffered by the team’s other signal-callers.