Jahvid Best Injury: Latest Setback Will Spoil Dream Season for Detroit Lions

The dream that has been the 2011 NFL season is quickly turning into a nightmare for the Detroit Lions now that Jahvid Best may miss the remainder of the schedule.

The second-year running back out of Cal suffered his second concussion of the season during the Lions' 25-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday. Those close to Best have reportedly advised him to be particularly careful, given his history of head injuries dating back to his college days, and have even gone so far as to recommend that he sit out the rest of the 2011 campaign to ensure his long-term health and safety.

The Lions, on the other hand, expect Best to be back this season and have yet to rule him out for this weekend's game in Atlanta against the Falcons:

Detroit's ground game wasn't particularly effective even with a healthy Best and will be hard-pressed to improve without him. The Lions currently rank 23rd in the NFL in yards per attempt and 25th in rushing yards per game, and will likely turn now to Maurice Morris to carry the load. Morris is a solid back, though he's spent the vast majority of his career as a second-stringer, with nary a 1,000-yard season to his name.

The Lions attempted to bolster their backfield by acquiring Ronnie Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles at the trade deadline, but the deal was voided when Jerome Harrison, whom Detroit was due to send to the City of Brotherly Love, was found to have a brain tumor during his physical in Philly.

All of which leaves the Lions woefully short of suitable backfield buddies for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Motor City Kitties must have known full well that this lack of depth would come back to bite them, given both Best's past frailty and a season-ending Achilles tear suffered by rookie Mikel Leshoure back in August.

Now, head coach Jim Schwartz must set aside the media frenzy surrounding the "Handshake Heard 'Round the World" and get his young team back on a winning track with a wounded rushing attack. That will be no easy task against an Atlanta Falcons team that's built for domes.

The Lions will have to hope that the Dirty Birds will continue to alternate wins and losses as they have through the first six weeks, all while keeping their fingers crossed that Best will be healthy enough to play before long.

Otherwise, Detroit's big bounce-back season is bound to fall flat, with the toughest portion of the schedule still upcoming. The Lions have road games at the Bears, Saints and Raiders, a home game against the Chargers and two dates with the defending champion Packers left to tackle in 2011.

As such, don't be surprised if everyone's chic preseason pick to shock comes crashing down to Earth before all is said and done, especially if Jahvid Best isn't able to help shoulder the load.