New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush is out the season, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported on its web site Tuesday.
Citing a league source with knowledge of the situation, the newspaper is reporting that Bush's torn left posterior cruciate ligament will not require surgery but will sideline him for the remainder of the year.
"It's been a very bad knee for about four weeks, and he shouldn't have been playing on it," the source told the newspaper.
However, the Times-Picayune reported that he also missed some practice time with a shin bruise in previous weeks before an MRI exam on Thursday revealed the PCL tear.
Saints officials on Monday said no decision has been made regarding Bush's status. An official announcement could come later Tuesday.
The second overall pick of the 2006 draft, Bush has been serving as the team's main ball carrier since Week Three, when Deuce McAllister suffered a torn ACL.
Bush has rushed for 581 yards on 157 carries with four touchdowns and has a team-leading 73 receptions for 417 yards and two scores.
The Saints (6-7) will turn to Aaron Stecker when they host the Arizona Cardinals (6-7) on Sunday in a battle of teams fighting for their playoff lives. The veteran backup carried 20 times for 100 yards in Monday's 34-14 win over the Falcons.
Heisman Watch: 1. Andre Woodson, QB, Kentucky Andre Woodson has been remarkably efficient as Kentucky's signal-caller thus far. The senior quarterback has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 1,309 yards with 16 touchdowns through five games. Andre Woodson finally threw his first interception of the season on Saturday, but not before he extended his NCAA record-breaking streak of pass attempts without a pick to 325. Unfortunately for Woodson, a brutal three-game stretch versus South Carolina, LSU and Florida will likely knock Kentucky from the ranks of the undefeated.