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The Green Bay Packers have signed cornerback Charles Byrd and running back Joey Harris, and waived punter Bryce Benekos. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the moves Sunday.
In addition, the Packers will place running back Chaz Williams, who broke his ankle during a combined workout with Buffalo Thursday evening, on injured reserve.
Byrd, a 5-foot-11, 196-pound rookie out of Morehead State, joined the Cleveland Browns earlier this year as a non-drafted free agent, but was waived in June. With four interceptions and 14 passes defensed as a 2004 senior, Byrd earned Division I-AA Mid-Major All-America honors for the second straight season. A team captain and three-year starter, he helped the Eagles to three consecutive Pioneer Football League Southern Division championships. Byrd as a junior led all of Division I-AA with 22 passes defensed.
Harris, a 5-foot-10, 214-pound back out of Purdue, played in four games as a rookie last year with the Carolina Panthers. Originally signed by Carolina as a non-drafted free agent, Harris earned an October promotion from the practice squad after injuries sidelined Stephen Davis, DeShaun Foster and Rod Smart. Harris, who totaled 53 yards on 15 carries (3.5 average), including a 19-yard burst at Seattle (Oct. 31), was sidelined himself and placed on injured reserve in mid-November with a season-ending hamstring injury. With their top backs returning to health, the Panthers waived Harris late last month.
Both Benekos and Williams had signed as non-drafted free agents April 29.