The San Francisco may have gotten help for Colin Kaepernick. If. ...
ESPN.com was the first to report that free-agent running back Reggie Bush agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers. An ankle injury limited the former No. 2 pick in the 2006 draft to 297 rushing yards and 253 receiving yards in 11 games.
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But even in his injury-riddled season, Bush had 40 receptions in 2014, just three fewer than the 49ers backfield had combined. It is the first real sign that the 49ers are trying to cater to the strength of Kaepernick, their enigmatic quarterback.
Days earlier, San Francisco signed deep threat Torrey Smith, a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens. Profootballtalk.nbc.com pointed out that Smith's specialty is a weakness of Kaepernick's - the deep ball.
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But the fifth-year quarterback has worked in the offseason with two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner on becoming a better pocket passer. Smith opens the field by taking defenders away from underneath routes.
Now, Bush comes in to command attention as a pass-catcher out of the backfield that create favorable matchups for Smith downfield.
Bush ran for more than 1,000 yards in the first years of both his last stops in Miami in 2011 and in Detroit in 2013.
The benefit for the 30-year-old Bush returning to California to play football - he won the 2004 Heisman Trophy with the USC Trojans - is that he will be able to share the backfield with Carlos Hyde and Kendall Hunter - to give Kaepernick multiple weapons out of the backfield.
Former starter Frank Gore, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts, was primarily a north-and-south runner who was seldom used in the passing game.
When Bush suffered his ankle injury last season, the Detroit Lions gave the starting job to Joique Bell, who never relinquished the role.
But Bush could be a weapon if he remains healthy and can give Kaepernick, who suffered 52 sacks last season, a big safety valve.
Do you think the addition of Reggie Bush will make Colin Kaepernick a better quarterback? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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