Saints safety Jairus Byrd placed on PUP list

The New Orleans Saints placed safety Jairus Byrd on the physically unable to perform list, reports Albert Breer of the NFL Network.

Players on the PUP list can be removed from the list at any time. Byrd had back surgery in May and did not participate in the team's offseason program.  

Saints coach Sean Payton said Byrd will be back "sooner than later."

Byrd signed a six-year, $56 million contract with $28 million guaranteed with the Saints this offseason after spending his first five seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

More: Drew Brees on this week's Sports Illustrated cover

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis refused to talk about Byrd's condition. 

"I don't really want to get into any discussion of that," Loomis said, via the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "We did a physical on him (prior to signing). We felt really good about his physical condition." 

- Scooby Axson