Jahvid Best Injury: Updates on Lions Star's Week 7 Status and Fantasy Value

The Detroit Lions have had a great start to the season, especially on offense, but one thing that has been missing is a consistent rushing attack. Jahvid Best has done his best to give them a boost, but he suffered a concussion against San Francisco.

Given the crackdown on concussions in recent years, and considering that Best was tested for a concussion following a game in the preseason, things do not look good for him the rest of this season. 

UPDATE: Sunday, Oct. 23 at 12:24 p.m. EDT by Brandon Galvin

As expected, Jahvid Best (concussion) is inactive today against Atlanta, according to Rotoworld's Staff.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct. 21 at 1:58 p.m. EDT by Brandon Galvin

Jahvid Best will not play Sunday against Atlanta, according to Rotoworld's Staff.

"Jahvid Best (concussion) missed practice again on Friday and will not play in Week 7 against the Falcons."

UPDATE: Friday, Oct. 21 at 11:50 a.m. EDT by Brandon Galvin

Do not expect to see Jahvid Best Sunday when the Lions take on the Falcons. He has yet to practice and isn't even attending meetings, according to Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett.

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"Best missed his second straight practice Thursday, and several of his teammates said they don't expect him to play in Sunday's game against the Falcons, a loss that would leave the Lions thin at the running-back position...

He made a brief appearance in the Lions' locker room on Wednesday, though [Maurice] Morris said. Best hasn't been in meetings this week because 'they kind of want him to stay away from the noise and lights, especially around here.'"

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The good news is that Best has yet to be ruled out for the season at this point, which was rumored earlier in the week, Birkett goes on to report.

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"And Best's agent, Tony Fleming, said he wasn't aware of anyone advising Best to sit out the rest of the season.

'Definitely no truth to him being out for the year at this point,' Fleming wrote in a textmessage. 'He will continue to be evaluated on a weekly basis.'

Despite Best's history of concussions, doctors not affiliated with him or the Lions say there's no reason to end the running back's season simply based on the number of head injuries he's had.

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UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 20 at 2:30 p.m. EDT by Adam Wells

Despite an earlier report that people close to Jahvid Best are advising him not to play again this season, the Lions sound like they expect him back at some point, according to the Oakland Press. 

Concussions are a tricky thing, and everyone's body reacts differently to them. The team can't put him out there until he is fully healthy, and the longer this situation drags out the more it hurts their running game. 

The fact that the Lions tried to trade for Ronnie Brown at the Trade Deadline should tell you that they don't expect Best back soon, even though they still have not ruled him out for Sunday's game against Cleveland. 

UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 20 at 12:40 p.m. EDT by Adam Wells

While an official decision about whether Jahvid Best will play this week - it appears unlikely he will - or this season has yet to be made, a report from Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com says that people close to the running back are telling him it would be in his best interest to not play again in 2011. 

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People close to Detroit runner Jahvid Best are expressing concern to him that he needs to strongly consider sitting out the year, I'm told. Best suffered his second concussion of the season this past week. He was forced to miss the final four games of his college career due to concussion-like symptoms.

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The more information that comes out, the more likely it appears that Best's season is over. The team is likely going to have to sit him down and make a decision, because they need to figure out what to do with the running back position as soon as possible. 

Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 11:30 a.m. EDT by Mike Chiari

While there is yet to be any definitive news on Best's status for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, he hasn't yet been ruled out by Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. It all comes down to whether he passes his concussion tests, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

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“Oh, sure,” Schwartz said when asked whether Best could play this week. “He just needs to pass all his things. But again, it’s a very objective test by neutral doctors. It’s a hot topic in the NFL over the last couple years, and I admire the NFL for the stance that they’ve taken for the long-term health of players. Concussions aren’t ignored anymore. Guys are very aware of what the symptoms are.”
 

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Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 2:07 p.m. EDT

Despite suffering from concussion-like symptoms after Week 6 and possibly being sent to I.R., Jahvid Best is not ruled out for Sunday's bout with the Atlanta Falcons, according to Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett.

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"Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz wouldn’t rule Jahvid Best out of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons during his weekly radio appearance on 97.1-FM this morning, but Schwartz said if Best can’t play he’s confident there won’t be any drop-off at the running-back position."

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Tuesday, Oct 18 at 9:15 a.m. EDT

Jahvid Best apparently did not suffer from concussion-like symptoms until after Week 6's duel with the 49ers, according to Detroit News' Chris McCosky.

"Schwartz said Best started complaining of the symptoms after the game, though it appeared he got his bell rung on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. Maurice Morris replaced him for the remainder of the game.

'We never lost (Best's) availability during the game,' Schwartz said. 'Even though we were using different packages, we were trying to get more protection so we had Maurice Morris in there to help chip.'"

All fantasy owners must pick up Maurice Morris, as he looks to be the one who will receive the first crack at carrying the load. Jerome Harrison would be next, according to Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett.

Monday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. EDT

NFL draft analyst Dion Caputi tweeted that because this is Best's second concussion of the season, he is likely headed to IR. 

That would be a crippling blow for the Lions running game, which is ranked 25th in the NFL in yards per game.

Best has good numbers overall—84 carries, 390 yards and two touchdowns—but they are skewed thanks to one great game he had against Chicago two weeks ago, in which he ran for 163 yards on 12 carries. 

Caputi also tweeted that Best's season rests on how severe the concussion is.

There is still no definitive word right now, but we should know more over the next two days as the Lions get ready to face Atlanta on Sunday.