Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd has given himself more than enough time to be ready for the start of the regular season after signing his one-year, $6.9 million franchise tender Tuesday night. The signing comes after the two-time Pro Bowler missed all of the teams off-season workouts, and nearly all of training camp. Buffalo will hold its final practice in suburban Rochester on Wednesday afternoon before returning to its headquarters in Orchard Park, N.Y. A person familiar with Byrds plans told The Associated Press that the player is not in the Buffalo area and intends to join the team within the next couple of days. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bills have only announced that Byrd has signed. The person added Byrds decision to sign the tender came without any assurances from the team that it wont apply the tag again next off-season. The Bills have the option to do that once more to prevent Byrd from testing free agency. Bills president Russ Brandon has only said the team will continue its attempt to sign Byrd to a long-term contract once it is allowed to after the season. The two sides failed to reach an extended deal before a July 15 deadline. The timing of Byrds signing should not come as a surprise. The move was made to give Byrd enough time to assure him of collecting his entire salary. Had he waited another week, the Bills -- under NFL rules -- could have been put in a position to ask the league for a one- or two-week roster exemption, during which time Byrd would not have been paid. That option is now off the table, with Byrd having two weeks to prepare for the Bills opener against New England on Sept. 8. Byrd, a second-round pick out of Oregon in 2009, has 18 career interceptions -- tied for the NFLs third-highest total since 2009. Byrd is expected to be a focal point of the teams new scheme under defensive co-ordinator Mike Pettine. Speed and versatility have been the foundation of Buffalos defence and the team has used a variety of pressure packages this preseason. That approach would appear to play to Byrds strengths by creating opportunities for him in the secondary. Byrd is not expected to play in Buffalos third preseason game Saturday against Washington and its uncertain if he will be ready to play in the teams preseason finale Aug. 29. Earlier on Tuesday, general manager Doug Whaley said Byrd will have some work to do to learn the new system. "A lot of its just installation and the mental part of it," Whaley said. "Its a new system, its an intricate system and safeties do make a lot of calls so hes missed that. ... So hes going to have some ground to make up but hes a professional. I know hell come in here ready to work and try to contribute as much as possible." When Byrd returns, its expected that he will replace third-year pro DaNorris Searcy in the secondary. Former cornerback Aaron Williams has impressed since making the switch from corner to safety this off-season and is listed as the teams top strong safety on the depth chart. Byrd is Buffalos top free safety. Byrd was Buffalos most consistent defender in 2012 and was added to the Pro Bowl roster as an injury replacement. He led the Bills with five interceptions and four forced fumbles and finished fourth on the team with 76 tackles. The three players ahead of him on that list -- George Wilson, Nick Barnett and Kelvin Sheppard -- are no longer with the team.NFL Jerseys Cheap . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. Wholesale Jerseys Authentic . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. http://www.wholesalechinajerseysauthenticnfl.com/ . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Wholesale NFL Jerseys .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Stitched NFL Jerseys . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011.HOUSTON -- Dallas Keuchel looked like the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, and the Houston hitters woke up to support him.Keuchel pitched a three-hitter and the Astros beat Texas for just the second time in 11 tries this season, topping the Rangers 5-0 Friday night.Jose Altuve had two hits and drove in two runs as the Astros closed within 5 1/2 games of the AL West-leading Rangers. Houston had lost three in a row overall.I dont know if its ever easy against these guys, but it was clearly his best game, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said about Keuchel. He made his pitches in the strike zone or close enough for them to have to deal with them. Just a really gutsy performance at a time when we needed it.Keuchel (7-11) allowed a career low in hits while throwing his fourth major league shutout. He struck out seven and walked two.First start in August, it is getting down to the final two months, Keuchel said.This is the first start I knew going in that it was going to be good because the way my body felt, the way it was recovering in between workouts. You get a feeling that the body is turning around right in the nick of time for August and September.Keuchel was coming off one of his worst starts of the season in which he was tagged for seven runs in five innings Sunday at Detroit.Houston got to Martin Perez (7-8) for four runs in the third. Altuve hit an RBI double, Carlos Correa followed with a two-run single before Tyler White had an RBI single.Thats the way we play, Correa said. When we are at our best, we are able to turn the game around in one inning. We were able to do that tonight. It was great, and we got the win.Keuchel got off to a shaky start, giving up a double, single and walk in the first inning, along with throwing a wild pitch.I made some pitches and settled down, but I knew from the get-go that if I was able to get a groundbball with two outs, I would be in good shape, Keuchel said.ddddddddddddfter that, he permitted just two more runners before Adrian Beltre doubled in the ninth.We saw the same guy that won the Cy Young last year, Beltre said. He relies on throwing the ball on the corners. Make you chase, keeping the ball down and thats what he tried to do.Evan Gattis had three hits for Houston, which scored as many runs as it had totaled in the previous five games.Perez lost his fourth straight decision. He hasnt won since June 26 against Boston.I just think I need to control the ball, Perez said. Sometimes Im trying to throw perfect pitches. Trying to look for the pitch for double plays and when a pitcher tries to throw perfect pitches you dont have a chance. Just need to control the ball and see what happens.TRAINERS ROOMRangers: LHP Derek Holland (left shoulder inflammation) started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock. He threw two scoreless innings, with one hit, one walk and two strikeouts on 28 pitches. ... CF Drew Stubbs (toe) continued a rehab assignment Friday with Round Rock. Stubbs entered Friday 7 for 32 in 11 rehab games.UP NEXTRangers: RHP Lucas Harrell (3-2) will make his second start with Texas after coming over from Atlanta in a trade July 27. He allowed three runs in six innings against Kansas City in his first start with Texas on Sunday.Astros: RHP Doug Fister (10-7) will make his 22nd start of the season. He will look to continue the success he had in his last outing Monday when he threw six scoreless innings.ROSTER MOVEFister will come off the three-day paternity list Saturday in order to make the start. The Astros optioned RHP Brad Peacock to Triple-A Fresno to make room on the roster for Fister. ' ' '