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Buffalo Bills rookie safety Jairus Byrd underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia two weeks ago and will be on the shelf for at least the next two weeks, team and league sources told The News.
Byrd had not yet reported to Bills training camp as of Wednesday, but his agent was close to an agreement on a contract with the Bills.
The injury hinders the chances of the University of Oregon product to make an immediate impact on the field.
The Bills have designs on installing Byrd as a starter at free safety this season. A sports hernia injury generally has a wide recovery range — from four to eight weeks. Byrd's surgery was considered routine and it's believed he may be closer to the four-week recovery period.
Byrd already figured to arrive at camp a tad behind the other rookies. He was not able to participate in any of the Bills' spring practices because Oregon had a late May start date for its final exam schedule. The NFL has a rule prohibiting rookie participation in minicamps if final exams don't start by a certain date.
Byrd did visit team headquarters in Orchard Park after minicamp. It was decided by the team to take care of his hernia before training camp rather than have the injury potentially linger into the season.
The Bills consider Byrd a playmaker in the secondary. He had the second most interceptions (17) of any player in the draft this April. He also deflected 53 passes in college, fourth best in Oregon history. He was a three-year starter at cornerback for the Ducks. The Bills see him as a ball-hawker who is a natural to convert to the back line of the secondary.
Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott are the incumbent starters at safety for the Bills. While the safeties are somewhat interchangeable, Scott is mostly a strong safety. Whitner can play free safety or strong safety. When Byrd proves he's ready to get on the field, Whitner would shift back to strong safety with Byrd playing a center-field role.
Even if he wasn't going to miss practice time, it might be asking a lot for Byrd to take the field as a starter in the season opener Sept. 14, since the Bills will face star quarterback Tom Brady and the powerful New England Patriots' offense. Scott is a seventh-year veteran who brings plenty of experience to the secondary. He figures to be on the field a lot the first game.
Byrd was the 42nd overall pick in the draft. When his contract is completed, it's expected to be worth about $4.3 million over four years.
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Buffalo Bills rookie safety Jairus Byrd underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia two weeks ago and will be on the shelf for at least the next two weeks, team and league sources told The News.
Byrd had not yet reported to Bills training camp as of Wednesday, but his agent was close to an agreement on a contract with the Bills.
The injury hinders the chances of the University of Oregon product to make an immediate impact on the field.
The Bills have designs on installing Byrd as a starter at free safety this season. A sports hernia injury generally has a wide recovery range — from four to eight weeks. Byrd's surgery was considered routine and it's believed he may be closer to the four-week recovery period.
Byrd already figured to arrive at camp a tad behind the other rookies. He was not able to participate in any of the Bills' spring practices because Oregon had a late May start date for its final exam schedule. The NFL has a rule prohibiting rookie participation in minicamps if final exams don't start by a certain date.
Byrd did visit team headquarters in Orchard Park after minicamp. It was decided by the team to take care of his hernia before training camp rather than have the injury potentially linger into the season.
The Bills consider Byrd a playmaker in the secondary. He had the second most interceptions (17) of any player in the draft this April. He also deflected 53 passes in college, fourth best in Oregon history. He was a three-year starter at cornerback for the Ducks. The Bills see him as a ball-hawker who is a natural to convert to the back line of the secondary.
Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott are the incumbent starters at safety for the Bills. While the safeties are somewhat interchangeable, Scott is mostly a strong safety. Whitner can play free safety or strong safety. When Byrd proves he's ready to get on the field, Whitner would shift back to strong safety with Byrd playing a center-field role.
Even if he wasn't going to miss practice time, it might be asking a lot for Byrd to take the field as a starter in the season opener Sept. 14, since the Bills will face star quarterback Tom Brady and the powerful New England Patriots' offense. Scott is a seventh-year veteran who brings plenty of experience to the secondary. He figures to be on the field a lot the first game.
Byrd was the 42nd overall pick in the draft. When his contract is completed, it's expected to be worth about $4.3 million over four years.
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