NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Reggie Bush’s broken leg likely will sideline him about six weeks but not the rest of the season, a person familiar with the injury said.
Bush was expected to be examined again Tuesday, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not officially updated Bush’s condition.
The Saints had the day off after returning early in the morning from their 25-22 Monday night victory at San Francisco. Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said there were no planned updates on Bush’s injury.
The bone in Bush’s lower right leg was broken when recovered his muffed punt with 6:58 remaining. He had trouble catching the ball at windy Candlestick Park and was injured during the scrum after he dove for the ball and players landed on him.
“Last second it kind of shifted a little bit, just enough for me to drop it,” he said. “I tried to recover it and somebody took my leg out. I don’t know who it was, what happened or how it happened. I just know my leg got taken out. That’s it.
“It hurt like hell,” Bush said. “When I got back up and tried to walk on it, it felt terrible.”
The injury capped a difficult past few days for Bush, who gave back his Heisman Trophy last week. The NCAA punished USC after concluding that Bush and his family improperly accepted money and gifts from sports agents while Bush played for the Trojans. Bush said he returned the award to end the controversy.
“It’s been a pretty tough week,” he said. “It’s just the way life goes.
“I’m just trying not to think the worst and just try to stay as positive as I can in this situation,” Bush said. “That’s all you can do, hope for the best.”
Bush had played well before the injury _ a broken right fibula. He caught a 6-yard touchdown pass on New Orleans’ opening drive and set up a field goal with a 43-yard punt return on the final play of the third quarter.
Bush finished with 30 yards on four receptions and 4 yards on five carries.
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AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow in San Francisco contributed to this report.
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