PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills signed free-agent running back Reggie Bush to a one-year contract to provide veteran depth behind starter LeSean McCoy and fill a big hole in their return game.
The Bills announced the signing Monday, and a person with direct knowledge of the contract revealed the length of the deal to The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the Bills did not reveal that detail.
The agreement was reached after Bush traveled to Buffalo to take a physical on Monday morning and then met with Bills officials at their training camp facility outside Rochester.
"We are always looking to improve our roster," general manager Doug Whaley said. "We had targeted Reggie because we feel a player of his caliber can help us in a variety of areas."
Bush is a 10-year NFL veteran who played five games with San Francisco last year before suffering a season-ending left knee injury when he slipped on the bare concrete bordering the Edward Jones Dome field in St. Louis.
Injuries have been a career-long issue for the second pick in the 2006 draft. Bush has played 16 games in a season just twice and has been limited to playing 29 games over the past three years.
When healthy, Bush is a dynamic threat as a rusher, receiver and returner. He's topped 1,000 yards rushing twice, most recently in 2013, when he had 1,006 yards in 14 games with Detroit. When adding in his production as a receiver, Bush has surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage five times in a career that began with New Orleans and included a two-year stint in Miami.
Bush's versatility fits several Bills' needs, including special teams.
Buffalo lacked a return specialist last season and failed to address the need this offseason.
"Hey, let's be honest, that's somewhere we want to be better at," coach Rex Ryan said in assessing Buffalo's return game after practice Monday. "That certainly wasn't our strength last year."
Bush has been used mostly as a punt returner. His best season came in 2008 with New Orleans, when he returned 20 punts for 270 yards and scored three of his four career touchdowns.
The 31-year-old Bush can also provide valuable experienced depth behind McCoy.
Backup Karlos Williams will miss the first four games of the season after the NFL suspended him for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
The remainder of Buffalo's backfield is made up of mostly unproven players, including Mike Gillislee, who played a complementary role in closing last season. Buffalo also re-signed Daniel Herron and added James Wilder Jr., the son of former Buccaneers fullback James Wilder.
Then there's fifth-round pick Jonathan Williams, who faces potential discipline after being arrested in Arkansas two weeks ago on a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated.
The Bills also signed free-agent receiver Kain Colter, who has yet to play an NFL game since completing his college career in Northwestern in 2013. In four college seasons playing quarterback, Colter combined to score 50 touchdowns, with 18 of them passing, four receiving and 28 rushing.
To make room on their roster, the Bills released receiver Davonte Allen and kicker Marshall Morgan.
