Kaepernick-Bush combination yet to take shape for 49ers

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SANTA CLARA – In an offseason that was overshadowed by an exorbitant number of 49ers veteran departures, running back Reggie Bush represented a rare arrival of a notable veteran.

“Obviously, there’s been a lot of talk about who the team has lost and who’s not here,” Bush said this week. “I think once I got here, what I saw was everybody was excited and motivated to get out on the football field and win football games, and not worry about who’s not here.”

However, while Bush has been with the 49ers since signing a one-year contract in March, he has not made much of a contribution. Bush failed to make it through two games and was inactive for three others due to a calf strain.

“Yeah, it’s been frustrating,” Bush said. “Obviously, just not being out there on the football field and dealing with the calf muscle, just working through constant rehab and wanting to be out there. It’s been tough. I was just excited (last week) to be out there and finish the game healthy.”

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Bush has been unable to provide the 49ers (2-5) with the pass-catching threat out of the backfield as the team envisioned in the offseason and training camp. He has just four receptions for 19 yards, and dropped a third-down pass from Colin Kaepernick on the 49ers’ first drive of last week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks for a quick three-and-out.

“We just didn’t connect,” Bush said. “I could’ve caught that one-handed if I had to, but it was definitely a play I wish I had back.

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“Kap came up to me after the play and said, ‘I got to get you a better ball,’” Bush said. “And in my head the whole time I was thinking, ‘I should’ve caught that.’ It’s just two playmakers who just got to find a better way to make that happen on third down.”

While Carlos Hyde continues to be affected by a stress fracture in his left foot, the 49ers will need Bush and Kaepernick to get on the same page. The Kaepernick-Bush rapport has yet to develop, perhaps, in part due to the practice and game action Bush has missed throughout training camp and the first seven weeks of this season.

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“He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve been around, especially in the weight room,” Bush said of Kaepernick. “He works his butt off. He’s constantly on the field talking to guys, just trying to get better on the field. He’s young and he still has a long career left in this game. He has a lot of football left to play. Obviously, we’re all struggling. Nobody is playing well on offense right now. So, we can all be better.”

When asked about Jay Glazer’s report that Kaepernick is on an island in the 49ers’ locker room, Bush said he sees the quarterback interacting with teammates a lot.

“On the football field he’s always talking to guys and working with guys and talking and communicating,” Bush said. “As far as I’ve seen, he’s doing a great job. It’s easy to dig up stories and say things when the team isn’t playing well. I think the most important thing we can do is focus on us, block out everything outside and try do go win this next football game.”

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