Reggie Bush won't be returning to the scene of his famous end zone somersault in last season's NFC Championship Game, at least not in uniform. Bush sat out practice on Friday, and the New Orleans Saints listed him as out for their regular-season finale in Chicago on Sunday. Bush has practiced just once during the past two weeks as he attempts to recover from a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The injury which did not require surgery was discovered by team physicians after an MRI on Dec. 6, several days after the Saints' 12th game of the season. New Orleans decided against placing Bush on injured reserve, hopeful he could heal in time to play in either the final game of the regular season or in the playoffs should the Saints make it that far. To take the final wild-card berth in the NFC, New Orleans (7-8) must win in Chicago, then both Minnesota (8-7) and Washington (8-7) must lose later in the day.

A fluky injury on a crazy play has ended New Orleans Saints' cornerback Mike McKenzie's season, making New Orleans' slim playoff hopes even slimmer. Saints' Coach Sean Payton said Monday that McKenzie tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while nearly recovering Donovan McNabb's fumble in what turned out to be Philadelphia's first touchdown in the Eagles 38-23 victory in New Orleans on Sunday. McKenzie has been placed on injured reserve, as has reserve running back Jamaal Branch, who fractured his right leg during kickoff coverage.

Running, throwing, or throwing on the run, Donovan McNabb has still got it. McNabb passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a 38-23 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. In losing the Saints (7-8) would be eliminated from playoff contention if the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins later Sunday night. McNabb no longer showed any effects of his rehabilitation from knee surgery over the summer or an ankle sprain in midseason. His 40-yard scramble on the third play led to a bizarre touchdown after his fumble was recovered in the end zone by Kevin Curtis. McNabb also used his scrambling ability to neutralize the Saints' pass rush. Saints' quarterback Drew Brees threw for 289 yards and a touchdown but lost his best receiver when Marques Colston left the game in the first half with a chest contusion.

Reggie Bush returned to practice Wednesday, ahead of schedule, after learning only two weeks ago that he had a torn left knee ligament. Whether Bush actually will play on Sunday is another matter. "I guess you guys have to wait and see," a grinning Bush said coyly. "I can't give that away yet." Even if Bush ends up missing his third straight game when the Saints host Philadelphia on Sunday, there could be some advantage to getting Bush back on the practice field -- it gives the Eagles something else to worry about. "He may or may not play, but they have to prepare as if he's going to play," said Saints' running back Aaron Stecker, who has been starting -- and thriving -- since Bush went down. "If they don't prepare for it and all of a sudden he shows up and plays, then they're just looking at themselves saying, 'Why didn't we prepare?' "I'm going to prepare the same way, as if I'm going to get the majority of the carries," Stecker continued. "And if he plays, he plays."

The Times-Picayune?s Mike Triplett reported Monday that Saints' RB Reggie Bush could return to the field in Sunday?s game against the Eagles. Bush will attempt to test his knee stability in practice this week. The Heisman Trophy winner has been inactive for the past two games due to a torn PCL.

Reggie Bush isn't ready to give up hope of returning this season. With New Orleans still in the running for an NFC wild-card playoff berth, Bush said Wednesday that his injured left knee might be healthy enough for him to play again before the Saints pack up for the offseason. "It's really frustrating because obviously I want to be out there with my teammates and help them get to the playoffs," Bush said after Wednesday's practice, which he sat out. "Every game from here on out is [like] a playoff game. So I'm looking forward to getting back as soon as possible and hopefully before the season is over." The Saints (6-7),who trail Minnesota by one game for the final NFC wild card spot with three games to go, could have put Bush on injured reserve, meaning Bush would miss the rest of the season. Such a move also would open up a spot for a healthy player on the 53-player active roster. The team discovered last week that Bush has a partly torn posterior cruciate ligament, which does not require surgery but likely will require about a month of rehabilitation.

New Orleans Saints' tailback Reggie Bush will not require surgery to repair a partially torn ligament in his left knee but will not play Monday night at Atlanta. Sources told ESPN that the former Heisman Trophy winner is likely to miss the rest of the season. ESPN's Chris Mortensen first reported Friday afternoon that Bush had a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament, and Saints' officials subsequently confirmed the injury. League sources told ESPN.com that Bush sustained the injury in a Nov. 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and that it was aggravated in another game, and he has played the past month with it. "It just got to the point, though, where he couldn't [play] anymore," a league source said. "He's a tougher kid than people realize, but it was only getting worse. At this point, he's just really beaten up."

Saints' running back Reggie Bush could miss Monday's National Football League contest against Atlanta with a knee injury, the Saints said Friday. Bush didn't practice on Friday because of what Saints' Coach Sean Payton said was a posterior cruciate ligament injury.