September 10
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints tailback Pierre Thomas probably won't be healthy enough to play in Sunday's season opener against Detroit, but Reggie Bush will be. In fact, Bush figures he is the healthiest he's been for a regular-season game since Week 7 of last season, when he tore the meniscus in his left knee during a punt return at Carolina. Although Bush came back in late November and played in three more games before being re-injured, he was not at full speed. Now he's finally getting a chance to pick up where he left off last September and October, when he was playing perhaps the best football of his NFL career. "I'm just looking forward to having a great game," said Bush, who tried to downplay the ..."
September 1
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints Coach Sean Payton is optimistic he'll have his top two running backs soon. Just how soon still is in question. Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas, considered 1 and 1A on the depth chart, have been limited by injuries lately and haven't gotten as many reps in the preseason as Payton would have liked. Thomas has been slowed recently by a lingering knee injury that kept him out of Saturday's 45-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders. He has been out since suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee against the Houston Texans on Aug. 22 and might miss Thursday's exhibition game against the Miami Dolphins at the Superdome. Payton said Thomas would be "questionable" to play ..."
August 25
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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After sitting out Saturday night's 38-14 exhibition victory at Houston with a strained calf muscle, Saints running back Reggie Bush said he is ready to play in Saturday's preseason game at Oakland. Although he sat out Monday's practice, Bush said he is healthy and expects to get a heavy dose of playing time. "It's just precautionary, taking it slow, building back to the season," Bush said of missing the game against the Texans. "I'm sure I'll play quite a bit this game. I know I'm looking forward to it." Bush strained a calf muscle in his right leg during post-practice conditioning drills Thursday morning in Houston, but he said the calf is fine. Bush suffered the injury while running ..."
August 6
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Reports, its seems, of Reggie Bush's "setback" were exaggerated. After an Associated Press story Wednesday morning sent Saints Nation into a tizzy with the suggestion that Bush had suffered more damage to his surgically repaired left knee, Bush put the fears to rest by going full speed in Wednesday afternoon's workout at the indoor practice facility. Bush, who was not scheduled to practice Wednesday morning, had fun with the media Wednesday afternoon, feigning a knee injury to a reporter as the team went through its warm-up drills. "I understand it (the publicity) comes with the territory," Bush said. "I was just kidding. I'm great." Pulling the media's leg, so to speak, was Bush's ..."
August 3
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints running back Reggie Bush returned to practice Sunday after being held out of the afternoon workout Saturday to rest his surgically repaired left knee. "I know the object is to be 100 percent healthy this season and not miss any games, so whatever we have to do to make that happen, I'm ready to do that," Bush said. "I feel like this year's going to be a test for me to see where I'm at health-wise, and I think I'll be fine. "I think it's just about doing the little things to keep myself healthy. Everything adds up, really -- flexibility, to the vitamins you take, to the food you take. I'm really focusing on that this year and just trying to maintain everything so I can to stay on ..."
January 9
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints tailback Reggie Bush said he was surprised to see how much of a stir was created by the news of his recent knee surgery. Both he and Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis insisted the surgery was less serious than perceived because of the negative connotation associated with the term "microfracture." Bush said he was off crutches less than two weeks after he had the arthroscopic procedure performed in mid-December, and he already is working out. "I feel like I'm right on track," said Bush, who expects to fully participate in the team's offseason training program, beginning in mid-March. Bush said the surgical procedure, performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., was a ..."
December 18
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Saints announced Wednesday running back Reggie Bush will end this season where he ended 2007 -- off the field. Bush became the 17th member of the Saints' injured reserve list, and he will miss the final two games of the season with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Saints Coach Sean Payton said he doesn't expect Bush to need surgery but added Bush will be meeting Friday with Dr. James Andrews, the renowned Birmingham, Ala.-based surgeon. "In his case, we're pretty optimistic about what he's got," Payton said. "He wouldn't be put on IR if we had more than two weeks or three weeks left in the season. In other words, the news is fairly good, which is ..."
December 17
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The New Orleans Saints have placed Reggie Bush on the injured reserve list, ending his season with two games to play. To fill the space on the roster, the Saints signed cornerback Michael Lehan, who had been with the Miami Dolphins. In five games this season, Lehan had 11 tackles and no interceptions. Bush injured his left knee against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 19, and had arthroscopic surgery the next day to repair a torn meniscus. He missed four games for rehabilitation. He returned to action against Tampa Bay on Nov. 30, but struggled and Coach Sean Payton reduced his playing time because of ineffectiveness. Bush scored a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 7 and appeared ..."
December 1
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints running back Reggie Bush failed to make a difference against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in his first game since Oct. 19, and he didn't hide his disappointment when it was over. "It didn't feel good," said Bush, who had little to add after the Saints' 23-20 loss to the Buccaneers. "Just didn't get it done. I felt kind of rusty. That's about it." Bush, who had been sidelined while recovering from knee surgery, finished with zero yards rushing on three carries and five catches for 32 yards receiving. Those touches, however, all came in the first half. Bush had two touches in the second half -- two punt returns, one that went for minus-12 yards and one for minus-4 yards. "I ..."
November 25
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Saints had no new injuries to report following their 51-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, and they're actually hoping to get more firepower back in the lineup for this week's game at Tampa Bay. Tailback Reggie Bush said, "I definitely feel like this is the week." He has missed the past four games after tearing the meniscus in his left knee, but he has been inching closer to a return, increasing his workload in practice each of the past two weeks. Bush said he didn't suffer a setback last week, but he was held out of the Green Bay game as a precautionary measure. "You're just trying to make sure you're 100 percent before you get back out there on the field," he ..."
November 24
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Keep an eye on Deuce McAllister. Saints tailback Reggie Bush is expected to miss his fourth consecutive game tonight while recovering from a left knee injury, so McAllister should see several snaps against Green Bay -- assuming that he isn't slowed too much by his left knee injury. This could turn into a memorable night for one of the greatest and most beloved Saints of all time. For starters, he has a chance to make history in front of the home crowd. With 53 career touchdowns, he needs one more to break a tie with Dalton Hilliard for the franchise record. "That would be great," said McAllister, the Saints' career rushing leader with 5,977 yards. "When you start playing, you look forward ..."
November 23
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints running back Reggie Bush returned to the practice field Saturday but was still limited two days before his team plays the Green Bay Packers, a sign that he could be in danger of missing his fourth straight game. Saints Coach Sean Payton said after Saturday's practice that he was optimistic about Bush's possible return, but Bush's practice time this week might have indicated otherwise, with Bush missing Friday's session and participating on a limited basis Thursday and Saturday. Bush has not played since tearing the meniscus in his left knee against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 19 and having surgery. He was listed Friday as questionable for Monday's game against the Packers at the ..."
November 21
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Reggie Bush did not practice Friday, and he is listed as questionable on the official injury report for Monday night's game against Green Bay. Saints Coach Sean Payton said he is still hopeful that Bush will be able to play Monday and that he hopes Bush will return to practice on Saturday. He said Friday was a planned day of rest since the Saints have extra time to prepare for this week's game. He said Bush did not suffer a setback after he practiced on Thursday. "We're just hopeful that tomorrow is better news than a week ago," Payton said. "We'll see where it's at." Tailback Deuce McAllister, meanwhile, returned to practice on a limited basis Friday and is listed as probable with his own ..."
November 21
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Reggie Bush returned to the practice field on a limited basis Thursday, and the Saints are hoping he'll be back in action Monday night against Green Bay after missing the past month with a knee injury. Bush, who had surgery Oct. 20 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, looked faster and more fluid Thursday during the portion of individual drills that were open to the media than he did during his lone practice last Wednesday. He was wearing a protective sleeve over the knee instead of the heavier brace he wore last week. "It felt pretty good," said Bush, who said he felt some expected soreness and stiffness last week but thinks he'll be further along this week. "I'm just kind of ..."
November 13
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints running back Reggie Bush returned to the practice field Wednesday for the first time since undergoing knee surgery, but he was noncommittal about playing Sunday. "I think it's definitely a possibility," Bush said about playing at Kansas City on Sunday. "I'm going to do everything I can to try to get back this week. I'm always optimistic about coming back as soon as possible. So we'll see what happens. I'm not saying no, but I'm not saying yeah, either. We've just got to see how everything pans out up until game day." Bush participated in Wednesday's practice on a limited basis, wearing a heavy knee brace that he said would likely be replaced with a lighter sleeve by the time he ..."
November 13
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints running back Reggie Bush returned to the practice field Wednesday for the first time since undergoing knee surgery, but he was noncommittal about playing Sunday. "I think it's definitely a possibility, " Bush said about playing at Kansas City on Sunday. "I'm going to do everything I can to try to get back this week. I'm always optimistic about coming back as soon as possible. So we'll see what happens. I'm not saying no, but I'm not saying yeah, either. We've just got to see how everything pans out up until game day." Bush participated in Wednesday's practice on a limited basis, wearing a heavy knee brace that he said would likely be replaced with a lighter sleeve by the time he ..."
November 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Saints running back Reggie Bush, who's recovering from knee surgery, is out for Sunday's game. Bush had surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee on Oct. 20. On Wednesday, Payton said the procedure wasn't as severe as the Saints had initially thought and was holding out hope that Bush would be available against the Falcons. He was listed as "out" on Friday's official injury report. Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, is the Saints leading rusher and receiver. Also center Jonathan Goodwin, the Saints' starting center, will not play against the Falcons. He's also out with a knee injury. Tight end Jeremy Shockey (hernia) and right guard Jahri Evans (ankle) participated in practice ..."
November 6
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints tailback Reggie Bush doesn't expect to play Sunday at Atlanta, but he said he will "definitely" be back in time for next week's game at Kansas City. "That's how good I feel right now," said Bush, who had surgery to repair torn meniscus in his left knee less than three weeks ago. "Definitely with another week I'll feel 100 percent ready to go." Bush ran outdoors for the first time Wednesday and had previously been running in a pool. The original prognosis for his recovery was three to four weeks. He injured the knee during the Saints' Oct. 19 loss at Carolina and had surgery the next day. Bush has been lifting weights for about a week, and he said there has been very little ..."
October 21
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Reggie Bush is expected to miss three to four weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn medial meniscus cartilage in his left knee, according to league sources. The surgery, which was performed Monday by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., went well, and a full recovery is expected by month's end. Saints officials were not available for comment Monday evening, but this was the result they were expecting when they sent Bush to the renowned surgeon after he was injured during Sunday's loss at Carolina. "It's an injury we have to deal with, hopefully on a short-term basis rather than a long-term basis, and it sounds like that's the case," Coach Sean Payton said ..."
October 21
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints fans everywhere might have fretted at the news Monday that Bush will miss three to four weeks of action while recovering from arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage in his left knee. Fret not. The Saints' offense could be better without Bush. Sound crazy? Look at what happened last year when Bush went to the bench with a knee injury and missed the final four games of the season. The Saints' offense didn't go into the dumps. In fact, it actually improved. The Saints averaged 343.9 yards and 22.2 points a game in the 12 games with Bush in the lineup. They averaged 413.2 yards and 28.2 points in the four games without him. That's why you didn't hear panic from the ..."
October 20
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Saints will have to get along without Reggie Bush for a while. Bush injured his left knee returning a punt in a 30-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium and will miss next week's game against San Diego in London. Saints Coach Sean Payton said Bush likely will undergo an arthroscopic examination today in Birmingham, Ala., by orthopedic surgeon James Andrews and could have surgery. "We're going to look at his meniscus in his left knee a little bit more," Payton said. Bush, who was injured on the last play of the second quarter, left the locker room without speaking to reporters. He finished with 76 all-purpose yards, including 55 yards rushing on nine ..."
October 16
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Saints running back Reggie Bush, who didn't practice Wednesday because of swelling in his left knee, said there's no cause for alarm. "The knee's fine," Bush said. "Just a little swelling. That's all. Just take it easy. Just a little precautionary stuff, nothing serious. . . . It's been swollen since training camp." Coach Sean Payton said, "It's something we deal with. The feeling today was to calm it down. We'll probably rest him tomorrow as well." Bush said the swelling isn't related to the torn posterior cruciate ligament that sidelined him for the last four games last season. That injury has healed completely, he said. BREES WINS AWARD: Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who completed ..."
October 13
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Reggie Bush didn't provide quite the same kind of theatrics in Sunday's 34-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders that he did six days earlier at the Superdome. But once again, he scored two touchdowns for the Saints, giving him eight on the season. That puts him on pace for 20 touchdowns this season -- which would break Dalton Hilliard's record of 18, set in 1989. Bush was shut down pretty good in the running game, gaining 27 yards on 14 carries with a long run of 5 yards. And he caught three passes for 40 yards. But both of the touchdowns were big plays. His 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter came on third-and-goal at the end of an 18-play, 86-yard drive that lasted nearly 11 ..."
October 7
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Saints' 2008 season should have come with a warning sign. Clearly, this ride is not for the faint of heart. Their third loss of the season -- a 30-27 heartbreaker to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night at the Superdome -- was even more gut-wrenching than the first two. And that's saying something. The Saints (2-3) have now lost three games by a combined total of 10 points. "We've got to learn how to win," quarterback Drew Brees said. "We've got to learn how to win those games. That's all I can say." The final blows came in the final two minutes, when Saints kicker Martin Gramatica missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt wide left with 1:58 remaining and Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell ..."
September 20
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Thirty games and two-plus years into his NFL career, we know less about what the Saints' Reggie Bush is than what he is not. Is he the best little back in the game? Jury's out. But we know he's not the next Marshall Faulk. Is he the best dual threat runner-return man in the game? Maybe. But we know he's not the next Gale Sayers. Is he the best back to enter the league in the last five years? Probably not, as it's becoming increasingly obvious that Adrian Peterson will wear that crown. With a 30-game résumé to evaluate, opinions still vary widely leaguewide about Bush's ability, value and proper role. One thing, though, appears universal: Bush is not a feature back that can carry an ..."
September 8
New Orleans Times-Picayune
columnist John DeShazier
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Lance Moore didn't need to think or consult, didn't need the benefit of a replay from one of three or four angles. Immediately, the Saints receiver sprinted toward back judge Lee Dyer and fell to his knees -- James Brown couldn't have done it better -- with both arms upraised like goal posts, the unmistakable and universal sign for offensive success. "I had to make sure the official knew," Moore said. "Occasionally, they need help." Unlike teammate Reggie Bush. The aid Bush got was minimal during a scintillating, give-'em-a-leg-and-take-it-back, 42-yard catch-and-run (99 percent more run than catch) that resulted in the score Moore was pleading for, the touchdown that gave the Saints ..."
August 15
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Reggie Bush will likely miss Saturday night's preseason game against the Houston Texans to rest his sore left knee, but he doesn't seem concerned about the injury. "It's just a little sore," Bush said after sitting out both of Thursday's practices, the second of which was an abbreviated walk-through session. "I could've practiced. We're just being cautious." Bush, who also missed one practice Saturday after he first experienced some swelling, said he had an MRI earlier this week, but it revealed no damage. This is the same knee that sidelined Bush at the end of last season, when he tore his posterior cruciate ligament. But he has been healthy and full speed throughout the offseason, ..."