ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Reggie Bush stood at the podium Thursday afternoon and briefly smiled. After all, he figured his knee injury could have been much worse than what had happened against Arizona on Sunday.
Instead, Bush could stand there and say he was optimistic about playing for the Detroit Lions on Sunday against Washington.
"I want to say I'm optimistic about playing," Bush said. "I always am. Today was a good day. The progress thus far since this last Sunday has been really good.
"I think it's a lot further than I expected, and it feels a lot better than I thought it was going to feel. So I'm just happy where it is right now. Today was a very positive day, and we'll see what happens tomorrow."
Bush did not practice Thursday and couldn't say exactly what was wrong. When asked if it was a strain, he responded: "I guess, yeah."
However, Bush did say he plans on practicing Friday, but Lions coach Jim Schwartz said that would have no bearing on his availability for Sunday.
The decision won't be just up to Bush, who doesn't trust himself. Earlier this week, Bush said he shouldn't have returned to Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals after initially suffering the injury.
"That's why I said it's going to be a collective decision, because if it were up to me, I would just say, 'Yeah, I could play right now,'" Bush said. "But that's the competitive side. That's what kind of happened this past game too."
Bush went through Sunday and most of Monday not knowing what was going to happen with his knee even as he walked on it without a noticeable limp after the game.
Truth is, he was concerned.
"I was concerned during the game, when it happened," Bush said. "I wasn't sure how serious it was. I just knew it was very painful, and I was just praying to God that it wasn't anything serious and wasn't anything that was going to keep me out long term.
"My prayers are answered, and hopefully I'll be able to play Sunday."