With two key members of the Buffalo Bills’ offensive backfield (Fred Jackson and Mashawn Lynch) out for the balance of the preseason if not longer, a key member of the defensive backfield is now injured, too.
Safety Jairus Byrd, a finalist for NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2009, is out indefinitely after undergoing his third groin surgery in 13 months.
“It looks like he’s going to be out for a while,” coach Chan Gailey said Wednesday, per the Associated Press. “We’re hoping first game, but it may be not.” The Bills open the season on September 12, against the Dolphins.
The injury is related to the groin injury that ended Byrd’s rookie season prematurely. He also had surgery to repair a sports hernia during training camp last year.
Gailey said that Byrd’s groin had been bothering him throughout training camp this year. The condition became worse on Monday night.