ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd's sensational rookie season is over.

Byrd, who leads the NFL with nine interceptions, was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, becoming the 18th Bills player to go on the season-ending list this year. Though he's started 11 of the past 12 games, Byrd's been bothered by a groin injury related to surgery he had to repair a sports hernia last summer.

The move came a day after Buffalo placed starting cornerback Terrence McGee on IR because of a rotator cuff injury.

With linebacker/safety Bryan Scott recovering from a head injury sustained in a 17-10 loss to New England last weekend, the Bills (5-9) could potentially be down six defensive starters when they play at Atlanta (7-7) on Sunday.

A second-round draft pick out of Oregon, Byrd has been the team's best rookie and was added to the AFC Pro Bowl ballot late last month. He's already set the franchise single-season record for interceptions and was one shy of matching the team's overall single-season mark.

Byrd had a breakout stretch during a three-week period from Oct. 18-Nov. 1, when he had two interceptions each in three games. That made him the NFL's first player since Dave Baker in 1960 to have two or more interceptions in three consecutive games.

Thrust into the starting lineup after Donte Whitner sustained a thumb injury in Week 3, Byrd has been part of a Bills defense that ranks third in the NFL against the pass, and has generated a league-leading 26 interceptions.

The Bills are banged up on offense, too, with starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and backup Trent Edwards both nursing ankle injuries. Third-stringer Brian Brohm has a chance to make his NFL debut this weekend.

Brohm, a 2008 second-round draft pick out of Louisville, was signed by Buffalo off of Green Bay's practice squad last month. Buffalo also signed former third-string quarterback Gibran Hamdan on Tuesday.

The Bills filled Byrd's roster spot by signing linebacker Josh Stamer, who was released by Cleveland last month. Stamer returns to Buffalo after he wasn't re-signed following the 2007 season.

Stamer played five seasons with the Bills, mostly on special teams.

Buffalo also signed linebacker Ryan Manalac to its practice squad. An undrafted rookie free agent, Manalac returns to Buffalo after he released by the Bills during training camp.