Not long after the New Orleans Saints invested $26 million in guarantees for Jairus Byrd, the three-time Pro Bowl safety underwent back surgery in May.
Byrd was back on the field but not taking part in team drills for the opening of Saints training camp Friday, per NFL Media's Albert Breer.
Coach Sean Payton said Thursday, per The Times-Picayune, that Byrd would return to football activities "sooner than later."
On Friday, the Saints placed Byrd on the physically unable to perform list, but Payton intimated this would not be a long-term move.
Payton's comments suggest there's little doubt that Byrd will be on hand for the season opener. That's a good sign for a team that plans to make a run at the Super Bowl in 2014.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" offers up team-by-team training camp previews of the NFC East and NFC West.