National Football League

Bills place rookie S Byrd on injured reserve

Published Dec. 23, 2009 11:15 p.m. ET

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Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd will require surgery to repair a groin injury, putting an end to the rookie's sensational season.

Byrd, who leads the NFL with nine interceptions, was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, becoming the 18th Bills player this year to go on the season-ending list. Though he's started 11 of the past 12 games, Byrd's been bothered by a groin injury related to surgery he had to repair a sports hernia last summer.

Byrd aggravated the injury in a 17-10 loss to New England last weekend, and will require a second operation to repair additional damage.

``Yeah, it is what it is. I've been dealing with this for a while and right now, I'm just kind of thankful for the year I've had,'' Byrd said. ``I'm going to try to get better and come back next year better.''

Interim head coach Perry Fewell said the injury was hampering Byrd's effectiveness on the field.

``He was struggling to make plays, and he was just getting worse,'' Fewell said. ``He could have finished (the season), but I might not have played him.''

The move came a day after Buffalo placed starting cornerback Terrence McGee on IR because of a rotator cuff injury.

With linebacker/safety Bryan Scott recovering from a head injury sustained in a 17-10 loss to New England last weekend, the Bills (5-9) could potentially be down six defensive starters when they play at Atlanta (7-7) on Sunday.

A second-round draft pick out of Oregon, Byrd has been the team's best rookie and was added to the AFC Pro Bowl ballot late last month. He's already set the franchise single-season record for interceptions and was one shy of matching the team's overall single-season mark.

Byrd had a breakout stretch during a three-week period from Oct. 18-Nov. 1, when he had two interceptions each in three games. That made him the NFL's first player since Dave Baker in 1960 to have two or more interceptions in three consecutive games.

Thrust into the starting lineup after Donte Whitner sustained a thumb injury in Week 3, Byrd has been part of a Bills defense that ranks third in the NFL against the pass, and has grabbed a league-leading 26 interceptions.

The Bills filled Byrd's roster spot by signing linebacker Josh Stamer, who was released by Cleveland last month. Stamer returns to Buffalo after he wasn't re-signed following the 2007 season.

Stamer played five seasons with the Bills, mostly on special teams.

Buffalo also signed linebacker Ryan Manalac to its practice squad. An undrafted rookie free agent, Manalac returns to Buffalo after he released by the Bills during training camp.

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