Running back Reggie Bush returned four punts for touchdowns while he was a member of the Saints, but he left the job to others when he moved into a feature back role with the Dolphins the last two seasons.
Bush is with the Lions now and he’s still expected to be the lead back in whatever rotation winds up in place in Detroit, but he could be returning to the punt return team as well. Bush was one of several players to work on fielding punts in OTAs last week and he said that it was a role he was willing to play if that’s what the Lions wind up deciding to do once the games get underway.
“I’ve done it before, and I don’t mind it. I can still do it if I need to and if they want me to do it,” Bush said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I’ll definitely go out there and return punts. It’s still early. They haven’t said anything official yet, so we’re still just feeling it out.”
Given Bush’s expected offensive responsibilities, one would imagine the Lions would prefer to find someone else to handle the punt return duties. They more or less confirmed that by meeting with Josh Cribbs before Cribbs wound up in Oakland. There aren’t any other returners of Cribbs’ level on the market, though, and that could force the Lions to turn to Bush if no one else proves worthy of the job.