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Rookie running back Michael Bush watched Raiders practice from alongside a chain-link fence, working out his right leg and wondering when he would be deemed healthy enough to join the proceedings.
He broke his leg in two places as a Louisville senior a year ago and underwent two surgeries. When the Raiders selected Michael Bush in the fourth round of April's draft, all parties involved expected him ready for training camp.
The Sept. 9 season opener is nearing, and it sounds more and more like Michael Bush will remain out indefinitely, whether he stays on the physically unable to perform list or gets moved to the injured reserve list.
"Yes, there's a very good chance of that," coach Lane Kiffin said after practice Sunday. "We'll make that final decision next week after this game."
That means Michael Bush, who says he's fine, will remain on the PUP list and miss his fourth exhibition game when the Raiders visit the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
"I'm just going out there, busting my tail, showing them what I can do," Michael Bush said. "Just a waiting game, that's all. I have no idea what's going on."
Michael Bush wasn't exactly complaining. He sounded receptive to the idea of sitting out for precaution's sake. He understands that the rigors of live NFL tackling could be a shock to his body after a year of recovery and downtime.
It's more the not knowing what's going to happen when that frustrates him.
Michael Bush is at practice every day, usually dressed in a plain gray T-shirt, black shorts and tall white socks. He often works out on his own off to the side, extending his right leg at 45-degree angles or doing high-knee pumps until his shirt is dark with sweat.
Every once in awhile, an assistant asks if he's loose enough to catch some passes during individual drills, and he's always game. Mostly, though, Michael Bush has to watch and wonder.
"I feel good, I feel great," Michael Bush said. "Sorry, I can't give you much right now."
Obviously, there's something there to keep the Raiders from playing Michael Bush. When he was drafted with the first pick of the fourth round, Kiffin boasted they got a top-10-caliber player.
It's not like the running-back deck is too stacked to include Michael Bush. Dominic Rhodes is suspended by the NFL for the first four games, ReShard Lee was lost to a knee injury and Justin Fargas has all but disappeared in camp.
That leaves LaMont Jordan and Adimchinobe Echemandu as the top two backs heading into the season opener. Jordan has recovered from a training-camp back injury. Echemandu leads the NFL with 158 rushing yards in three exhibition games.
If Michael Bush starts the season on the PUP list, the Raiders cannot activate him until between Weeks 7 and 11, after which they must put him on the 53-man roster, place him on injured reserve or release him.
Michael Bush, for one, can't wait to hear.
"Playing it by ear," he said.
Good-byes: Offensive tackle Torrin Tucker sat near the team parking lot during practice, a cell phone in one hand, a black plastic bag with his belongings in the other.
Tucker, who joined the team in training camp, was cut - along with six others Sunday - two days before teams must reduce their roster to 75 players.
The others were safety Colin Branch, offensive tackle Albert Toeaina, receivers Rich Parson and Lauren Williams, cornerback Levonne Rowan and defensive tackle Jared Clauss.
Oakland must cut three more players by Tuesday. The final 53-man roster is due Saturday.
Briefly: Wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins was taken to a local hospital after feeling side pain during a meeting. Kiffin gave no other details. ... Backup safety Hiram Eugene (hand) and cornerback Duane Starks (hamstring) returned to practice. Strong safety Donovin Darius (calf) and tight end O.J. Santiago (hamstring) sat out. ... Kiffin said there is has been "nothing more or less" developing in negotiations with No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell, who has gone one month without a contract since training camp started.
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