Reggie Bush doesn't fly with team to Tampa Bay

A source close to the New Orleans Saints told the Associated Press that running back Reggie Bush did not fly with the team for its game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A team spokesman said Saturday that Bush had been downgraded on the official injury report from questionable with a knee injury. Bush missed all of practice this week with swelling in his left knee, the same knee on which he had surgery last December to repair cartilage. This will be the first game Bush has missed in 2009. He missed 10 of his previous 20 games before 2009. He is expected to return to practice next week. Bush has 484 yards and six touchdowns in combined rushing and receiving this season.

Fantasy Analysis:
Bush was hopeful to play, but given his injury history, it's a smart move for the Saints to hold him out of a game that they can probably win without him. Pierre Thomas will still see 15-20 touches, but Bush's absence probably means good things for Mike Bell the most. Lately, Bush has been the back that the team uses around the goal line. He scored two touchdowns last week at St. Louis. But with Bush on the mend, I would expect to see Bell getting some short-yardage carries -- a role that he held in the early part of the season.