Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best suffered concussion vs. 49ers
Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best suffered his second concussion of the season in Sunday’s 25-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Best’s last carry came with 10:20 to play when he was stopped for a one-yard loss. He stayed in the game the next two plays before giving way to Maurice Morris for the Lions’ final three series.
Best stayed on the Lions sidelines with his helmet off after he left the game. ProFootballTalk.com reported last month that the NFL sent a memo to teams reminding them that “if a player is diagnosed with a concussion and removed from a game, he must leave the field and be immediately escorted to the locker/training room” with no exceptions.
Lions spokesman Bill Keenist said in a text this morning that Best’s “concussion symptoms didn’t manifest themselves until after the game.”
Best, who carried 12 times for 37 yards and caught six passes for 73 yards, also suffered a concussion in the Lions’ second preseason game against the Cleveland Browns and missed one week, and a concussion history in college at Cal.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz did not address Best’s concussion specifically after the game, but when asked about defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch’s health said, “You guys know me with injuries. We’ll see where all of them are, but I think we’re OK.”
Lawrence Jackson finished the game at right defensive end in place of Vanden Bosch, who was having his neck/shoulders worked on by Lions trainers.
Two other Lions missed Sunday’s game with concussions. Linebacker Justin Durant missed his third straight game with a concussion he suffered while covering a punt against the Minnesota Vikings, and Tony Scheffler went to the hospital after the Lions’ Monday night win over the Chicago Bears with a concussion.
Contact Dave Birkett: 313-222-8831 or dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @freeplions.