Detroit Lions’ running back Jahvid Best likely to start the season on PUP list – NFL News
It seems that running back Jahvid Best will not be able to participate in the Detroit Lions’ season opener against St. Louis Rams on September 09, 2012.
It has been reported that Best will most likely be starting the season on physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
The last time Best played was in October last year when he suffered a concussion playing against San Francisco 49ers. That injury proved to be a season-ending one for Best as he was unable to play in the rest of the 2011 season.
This news comes contrary to what Best and Lions both have been saying throughout the season. Both have previously said that Best will be ready come the start of the season.
Best, 23, has missed the entire offseason while rehabilitating his injury. Best also has a record of getting a concussion in his college. It is believed that many teams cleared the running back’s name from their draft board because of having a history of
brain injury.
Best has previously reiterated the fact that Lions have been hesitant to allow him to play with the injury. He said:
"I think just in terms of everything that's been going around with concussions, everybody's being extra careful. If this was four or five years ago, I probably would have played last season. Now that everything's under a thin microscope, it takes a lot longer."
If Best remains on the PUP list at the start of the season, he will be unable to play in the first six games of the season.
Lions face a terrible situation in the running game as they will be without their premier backup to Best.
Running back Mikel Leshoure will not play the first two games of the upcoming season as he is suspended for the violation of NFL substance-abuse policy.
Leshoure has also suffered from hamstring injury this offseason and has missed most of the training session because of it.
It is highly unlikely that Leshoure will start in Lions’ preseason game against Baltimore Ravens on Friday.
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