METAIRIE, La. -- Saints coach Sean Payton said running back Reggie Bush, who has missed the last three games after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, was further along than a week ago. It's still not clear if he will play Monday night, however.
After practicing earlier this week, Bush sat out Friday. Payton said giving Bush a day of rest was part of the plan in order to prevent Bush from overworking his repaired medial meniscus.
"We have an extra day here in the schedule," Payton said. "Yesterday he did more than he did a week ago on that first day, so we'll see where he's at (Saturday)."
Bush returned to practice Nov. 12 for the first time since having the knee scoped on Oct. 20, but missed the next two practices and Sunday's game at Kansas City. Bush seemed optimistic, however, that he'll be full go for Monday night's key game with the Green Bay Packers and maybe even return punts.
"It was my first full practice and it felt pretty good," Bush said. "It was just kind of getting back into all the motions and the swing of things, but it felt good to finish a full practice."
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
