Reggie Bush: Can the New Dolphins Running Back Stay Healthy Through 2011?

Reggie Bush is slated to be the Miami Dolphins primary running back this season.

At least that is the plan that Tony Sparano has for him.

Bush is more of an all around play maker than workhorse running back, but Daniel Thomas has disappointed in training camp and needs more time to adjust to the NFL.

But will Bush remain the primary running back?

Not due to running back Daniel Thomas some how snatching that job away from Bush, but I ask that question because of Bush's injury history.

Bush has missed parts of the last four seasons with various injuries.

In 2007, Bush missed the last four games of the season with a partially torn cruciate ligament in his left knee. The next season on December 11 against Chicago, Bush sprained his medial collateral ligament in that same knee and was placed on injured reserve.

During the Saints Super Bowl year of 2009, Bush was bothered by lingering problems with that left knee as well as an injury to his calf that he suffered during the preseason. He then missed two games against New England and Washington as well as part of their second to last game that season against the Buccaneers.

Then last season, Bush broke a bone in his right leg in the Saints' second regular season game, which kept him out of action until their Thanksgiving matchup against Dallas.

So between his previous history and a Dolphins offensive line that looks very subpar, can Bush stay healthy for a full 16 games for this first time since his rookie season?

The encouraging news is that Bush has looked healthier this season than he has in years past. While his speed isn't as breathtaking as the speed that won him the Heisman and got him drafted second overall in 2006, he still has a good burst and is very elusive in the open field. On top of that, at least to my eyes when I've seen him in person at practice, Bush looks like he's bulked up by about 10 pounds compared to previous years.

He's also consistently been one of the hardest working Dolphins at practice, and is usually the last guy off the field. It's been partly because of this work ethic that Sparano and the Dolphins believe that Bush can be an every down back.

That work ethic along with how he's looked so far even has me believing in his chances of staying healthy, though I'll admit I'm the farthest thing from a medical expert.

Reggie Bush knows he has a lot of things to prove in Miami in 2011.

Most important on that list is that he can play an entire season. 

Thomas Galicia is a Miami Dolphins Featured Columnist. Follow him on twitter @thomasgalicia. For more of his opinions, visit www.thomasgalicia.com, nominated by CBSMiami.com for "Miami's Most Valuable Blogger" in the sports division.