PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Bills brought in free-agent running back Reggie Bush for a visit on Monday with the intention of adding veteran depth behind starter LeSean McCoy.
Bush was spotted at the Bills’ training camp facility outside Rochester around noon. A person with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed that Bush is expected to sign with Buffalo should he pass his physical. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the Bills have not announced their plans.
CBSSports.com first reported Bush was scheduled to sign with the team pending his physical.
General manager Doug Whaley told the AP that he was scheduled to meet Bush early in the afternoon. Whaley said Bush was merely visiting and that no deal was completed, but added he was encouraged by the player’s presence at camp.
Escorted by Bills pro scout Gerald Dixon, Bush said hello to a couple of Buffalo players as he walked toward the team parking lot.
Bush’s visit was the next step after the Bills first contacted the player’s representatives about two weeks ago.
Bush is a 10-year NFL veteran who played five games with San Francisco last year before suffering a season-ending left knee injury when he slipped on the bare concrete bordering the Edward Jones Dome field in St. Louis.
Injuries have been a career-long issue for the second pick in the 2006 draft. Bush has played 16 games in a season just twice, and has been limited to playing 29 games over the past three years.
When healthy, Bush is a dynamic triple threat as a rusher, receiver and returner. He’s topped 1,000 yards rushing twice, most recently in 2013, when he had 1,006 yards in 14 games with Detroit. When adding in his production as a receiver, Bush has surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage five times in a career that began with New Orleans and included a two-year stint in Miami.
Bush’s versatility fits several Bills’ needs, and would provide valuable experienced depth behind McCoy.
Backup Karlos Williams will miss the first four games of the season after the NFL suspended him for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
The remainder of Buffalo’s backfield is made up of mostly unproven players, including Mike Gillislee, who played a complementary role in closing last season. Buffalo also re-signed Daniel Herron and added James Wilder Jr., the son of former Buccaneers fullback James Wilder.
Then there’s fifth-round pick Jonathan Williams, who faces potential discipline after being arrested in Arkansas two weeks ago on a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated.
