Jairus Byrd Officially Cleared for 2015 NFL Season: Latest Comments, Reaction

Jairus Byrd made one of the biggest splashes in free agency a year ago, signing a six-year, $54 million deal with the New Orleans Saints.

The honeymoon was short-lived, however, as he played only four games with the team before tearing his meniscus and missing the rest of the season.

He's now ready to return, tweeting the following Wednesday:

This doesn't come as a surprise, as Saints head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that Byrd would be back in a few weeks.

"He's doing well," Payton told Jen Hale of Fox Sports New Orleans. "His rehab is on schedule. He'll be cleared for minicamp. We're looking at about two or three weeks from him being 100 percent."

When healthy, Byrd is one of the top safeties in the league. He registered 22 tackles and an interception in his four games last season, and during his five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, he was elected to the Pro Bowl three times and was a two-time second-team All-Pro selection by The Associated Press. 

His absence was felt by a Saints team that finished 25th in pass defense last year.

Getting Byrd back will be like signing a new player for the Saints, who are short on cap space and will need the stars they already have on their roster to step up.

It may take Byrd some time to play himself back into game shape, but the fact that he is expected to participate in minicamp means he should hit the regular season at 100 percent.