O'Neil was asked if it was a disappointment, this late in the season, to lose Rush. "Yeah," he said. "I think he was a guy that we talked about a few weeks ago. He did a great job for our guys on the scout team. He obviously had a great preseason for us but I'm happy for him. He's got a chance to be on the 53, get a couple of game checks, and put some film out there for himself. I'm happy for him."
During the preseason, Rush recorded six sacks against opposing quarterbacks, which not only led the team but led the NFL. When it came time to make the team's final cuts in September, Rush was one of numerous roster casualties. He was later signed to the team's practice squad where he remained all season.
O'Neil was later asked about the decision to leave Rush on the practice squad all season with the 49ers at 1-13. "Those decisions are above my pay grade," he answered and laughed.
Had the decision been O'Neil's, would Rush have been on the active roster? "I'm not going to second guess people in the building," he said. "I'm not going to go there."