Jairus Byrd has gone under the knife.
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters that Byrd missed practice Thursday to undergo surgery to relieve a disc issue in his back, according to The Times-Picayune. Payton said Byrd, a prize free-agent acquisition in the offseason, is expected to be ready for training camp.
Payton said the surgery wasn't necessary, but doctors determined it would help Byrd moving forward. The coach added that Byrd wouldn't have undergone the procedure if the problem cropped up during the regular season.
This doesn't sound like a major setback for Byrd, but it can't be considered good news for a Saints team that just invested more than $26 million in guaranteed money in the talented safety.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" breaks down the news discusses players who could be summertime trade targets.
