San Francisco 49ers

49ers have backup plan with Bush ready to return to lineup

Published Oct. 2, 2015 12:10 a.m. ET

foxsports

San Francisco 49ers running back Reggie Bush practiced fully for the second straight day and appears ready to return to the lineup for the first team since Week 1.

Bush has been sidelined since suffering a calf strain in a season-opening victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Bush will likely assume the backup role to Carlos Hyde and provide a much-needed receiving threat out of the backfield against the visiting Green Bay Packers.

“Reggie’s a playmaker,” wide receiver Torrey Smith said per the San Francisco Chronicle. “And you put him out there, he can run routes like a receiver and turn a simple run into a huge one for us.

"So we’re looking forward to having him back and I definitely think it’s going to take some pressure off (quarterback Colin Kaepernick)."

San Francisco has fallen behind by at least 24 points by halftime in each of its last two games, basically rendering the ground game useless. Bush has at least 40 catches in seven of his nine seasons and is the active leader among running backs with 466 career receptions.