Byrd not practicing, but why?

Saints S Jairus Byrd hasn't practiced with his team since June minicamp ended, but New Orleans won't reveal why he's sitting out. "I think he's progressing well," HC Sean Payton told Larry Holder of NOLA.com on Wednesday. "I think sooner than later we'll get a chance to see him. At the same time we're going to be smart." Payton wouldn't answer, though, when asked whether Byrd is resting the knee put him on IR in Week 5 last season. The former Bill missed most of last summer after needing back surgery following his free-agent landing with the Saints, so it's tough to not worry about this situation. There's still time for Byrd to get back onto the field and show the ability that made him a high-dollar signing and has made him an IDP star at times in the past. But he's no more than a late consideration in your fantasy football draft until he shows something.

ESPN's Ed Werder reports that the Saints expect S Jairus Byrd to return to action for Week 2 or Week 3. Byrd missed all of training camp with swelling in the knee that suffered a torn lateral meniscus last October. He's been sidelined by injury much more than he's been on the field since signing with New Orleans last spring and will have to show us something before we're putting him in IDP lineups at this point.

According to ESPN's Britt McHenry, Saints HC Sean Payton said Wednesday that the team's "plan" is to get S Jairus Byrd back on the field before the preseason is over. The veteran has missed most of training camp -- off and on -- to this point, with the team providing very little information on what's actually wrong. It's all quite worrisome for a guy who had back surgery shortly after signing as a free agent last summer and then missed more than half the 2014 season with a knee injury. We'll see where this goes. Byrd certainly doesn't make for a very attractive pick in your IDP league right now.

Saints S Jairus Byrd suffered a torn lateral meniscus in practice Thursday, and the team place him on IR Friday, according to Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate.  Byrd had yet to bring any of his turnover mojo to his new defense, leaving him and the team D as fantasy disappointments so far.  But he's certainly a bigger talent than what will replace him.  Rafael Bush sits behind Byrd on the depth chart and should take over his spot.

Saints S Jairus Byrd joined the team for practice Tuesday for the 1st time since May back surgery.  The team called the procedure "minor" at the time, and his early-camp return seems to confirm that.  Barring any setback, we won't consider this an issue for Byrd's fantasy outlook.  He's a high-ceiling option, especially in big-play heavy formats.  Check our 2014 IDP rankings to see just how much we like him.  Byrd's return -- thanks primarily to his turnover potential -- is also great news for the underrated Saints' team D.

Saints S Jairus Byrd's sitting out OTAs after recent back surgery, HC Sean Payton told The Times-Picayune on Thursday.  The procedure was reportedly minor, something Bthyrd would have passed on during the regular season.  The team expects him back for the start of training camp.  Byrd lost 5 games to injuries last year, including plantar fasciitis after he reported to Bills training camp late.  As long as he checks out physically early in Saints camp, though, we won't bother sliding Byrd down our 2014 IDP rankings.