PITTSFORD — Buffalo Bills rookie safety Jairus Byrd underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia two weeks ago and will be on the shelf for at least the next two weeks, team and league sources told The News.

Byrd also signed a contract with the Bills on Wednesday afternoon. Terms were not disclosed but the deal is believed to be worth $4.2 million for four years with about $2.4 million in guaranteed money.

The injury hinders the chances of the University of Oregon product making an immediate impact on the field.

The Bills have designs on installing Byrd as a starter at free safety this season. A sports

hernia injury generally has a wide recovery range — from four to eight weeks. Byrd's

surgery was considered routine and it's believed he may be closer to the four-week recovery

period.

Byrd already figured to arrive at camp a tad behind the other rookies. He was not able to

participate in any of the Bills' spring practices because Oregon had a late May start date for

its final exam schedule. The NFL has a rule prohibiting rookie participation in minicamps if

final exams don't start by a certain date.

Byrd did visit team headquarters in Orchard Park after minicamp. It was decided by the team

to take care of his hernia before training camp rather than have the injury potentially linger

into the season.

The Bills consider Byrd, the 42nd overall pick in the 2009 draft, a playmaker in the

secondary. He had the second-most interceptions (17) of any player in the draft this April. He

also deflected 53 passes in college, fourth best in Oregon history. He was a three-year

starter at cornerback for the Ducks. The Bills see him as a ball-hawker who is a natural to

convert to the back line of the secondary.

Byrd's father, Gill, was a Pro Bowl cornerback for the San Diego Chargers and currently is

an assistant coach with the Chicago Bears.

Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott are the incumbent starters at safety for the Bills. While the

safeties are somewhat interchangeable, Scott is mostly a strong safety. Whitner can play free

safety or strong safety. When Byrd proves he's ready to get on the field, Whitner would shift

back to strong safety with Byrd playing a center-field role.

Even if he wasn't going to miss practice time, it might be asking a lot for Byrd to take

the field as a starter in the season opener Sept. 14, since the Bills will face star

quarterback Tom Brady and the powerful New England Patriots offense. Scott is a seventh-year

veteran who brings plenty of experience to the secondary. He figures to be on the field a lot

the first game.

When he reports Byrd will be on the non-football injury list.

The Bills also confirmed the signing of guard Eric Wood, the 28th overall pick in the draft.

The team also waived receiver P.K. Sam, who had a quadriceps injury.