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Jahvid Best | Running Back

Team: Detroit Lions
Age / DOB:  (24) / 1/30/1989
Ht / Wt:  5'10' / 199
College: California
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

GM Martin Mayhew says Jahvid Best (concussions) is not participating in the offseason program right now.
This comes as no surprise. Best has repeatedly said that he plans to play football again, but the odds are against him ever being cleared medically. The Lions may consider shelving Best on PUP for a second-straight season. He has two years left on his contract. Apr 18 - 1:35 PM
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter

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Player News

Date:
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

Lions GM Martin Mayhew says he'll consider stashing Jahvid Best (concussions) on PUP for the entire 2013 season.

The Lions did the same with Best last year. The approach would give Best more time to recover, and the club a chance to activate him after six games in case Best receives medical clearance. Best has stated repeatedly that he hopes to continue his football career. The Lions see no reason to cut him in the meantime.
Source: MLive.com
Mar 22 - 4:26 PM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

Jahvid Best (concussions) is "never giving up hope" of playing again.

"It's been about a year and a half now, but I'm still working out like I'm playing next week," Best said. "I'm staying ready so if the opportunity does present itself, I'll be ready." Best has been symptom free for some time now, but unable to obtain final clearance from a neurologist. If Best ever does take the field again, it's unlikely to be with the Lions, who moved on by signing Reggie Bush. Unfortunately, Best has probably played his final down.
Source: Baltimore Sun
Mar 18 - 10:09 AM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

Coach Jim Schwartz confirmed the Lions will approach the 2013 offseason as if Jahvid Best (concussions) is not on the roster.

The Lions are pursuing a speed back to pair with early-down bruiser Mikel Leshoure. Asked specifically about free agent Reggie Bush, Schwartz replied, "Has tampering season officially opened? We’re worried about our own team right now, we’re evaluating every single player ... and we’ll leave no stone unturned."
Source: Detroit Free Press
Feb 21 - 3:50 PM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

Teammate Nate Burleson believes Jahvid Best (concussions) should "shut it down."

"I just told him that, if it was me, I would shut it down," Burleson said. "You've got so much more life to live, and even though I would love to have you on the field, I don't want it to risk anything that has to do with your brain or possibly your post-career." Best has yet to officially retire, but the Lions are moving forward as if he has. It's probably only a matter of time before Best hangs it up.
Related: Nate Burleson
Source: Detroit Free Press
Feb 19 - 3:09 PM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

The Detroit Free Press acknowledges that Jahvid Best's (concussions) career is likely over, and the Lions are searching for his replacement.

Doctors have refused to clear Best to take more hits after suffering two concussions in 2011, and four in his football-playing career. The Lions have seemingly moved on, as GM Martin Mayhew reiterated that he needs to find "that shifty back that can come in and be that change-of-pace guy who can catch passes out of the backfield." Coaching the South team at the Senior Bowl, Jim Schwartz's staff has kept a close eye on running backs.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Jan 25 - 8:28 AM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

Speaking about Jahvid Best (concussions) Wednesday, Lions GM Martin Mayhew said he's "not at all inclined to rely on his return."

It sounds like the Lions are beginning to move on from their 2010 first-round pick. By most accounts, Best is currently healthy, but can't find a doctor who will clear him to take more potential concussion-inducing hits. If the Lions decide to opt out of the final two years of Best's rookie contract, it's possible no team will be willing to gamble on his health.
Source: Chris McCosky on Twitter
Jan 2 - 7:13 PM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

Lions coach Jim Schwartz was noncommittal on Monday when asked whether Jahvid Best (concussions) will resume his playing career.

"I've had conversations with Jahvid," Schwartz said. "I don't want to go into those. That's out of my hands as a coach." Best has maintained all along that he intends to resume playing, but hasn't yet found a doctor who'll clear him.
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter
Mon, Dec 31, 2012 11:39:00 AM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

Jahvid Best (concussions, injured reserve) believes he could resume playing in 2013.

"I’m a glass half full kind of guy. If you don’t shut the door then there’s still a way," Best said. "It doesn't matter how long it takes me, as long as my body is fresh, then I’m going to stay ready to play. If they give me a chance, and they say it’s safe for me to play, then I’ll be out there." Best is symptom free, but he can't find a doctor who will clear him to play. That will only get harder as more time passes. Best's Dynasty prospects are not bright.
Source: DetroitLions.com
Tue, Nov 27, 2012 08:26:00 PM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

Lions kept RB Jahvid Best (concussions) on reserve/PUP, ending his season.

As expected. Best can't find any doctors willing to clear him to play football again, and there is concern around the league and inside the Lions' organization that he may never return to the NFL. Best turns 24 in January. His player rep did confirm to the Detroit Free Press that Best won't stop trying. "He obviously still wants to play," agent Tony Fleming said. "We're just in a climate now in the NFL where everybody's extra cautious."
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 03:59:00 PM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

The Lions have until Tuesday, Nov. 6 to activate Jahvid Best (concussion) from the PUP list.

The Lions announced two weeks ago that Best wouldn't play this season, but they have apparently left a window of hope for local fans by not moving him to injured reserve. "With regard to Jahvid, we'll have an update on that soon," GM Martin Mayhew said Thursday. "At the appropriate time." We fully expect the Lions to send Best to I.R. next week.
Source: DetroitLions.com
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 03:43:00 PM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, doctors that have examined Jahvid Best (concussions) "don't want to be responsible for him."

Best feels great and says he's ready to practice. But doctors and the Lions disagree, raising liability and long-term health concerns. Per Schefter, "some now wonder" if Best has played his last NFL down. He's just 23 years old.
Source: ESPN.com
Wed, Oct 31, 2012 09:28:00 AM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

The Lions announced Monday that Jahvid Best (concussions) will not play football this season.

Detroit's offensive backfield will be Mikel Leshoure the rest of the way, with some Joique Bell mixed in. Doctors seemed conflicted on whether to medically clear Best, and the Lions ultimately made the likely-wise decision to shut him down for 2012. Best has suffered four concussions dating back to his final season at Cal. He's stated he won't give up trying to play football, but for now the outlook isn't pretty. Best can be dropped in all re-draft leagues. Only deep-league Dynasty owners can keep holding out hope.
Mon, Oct 15, 2012 06:05:00 PM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

Lions coach Jim Schwartz indicated Monday that doctors are still debating whether to clear Jahvid Best (concussions, PUP) to play.

We're beginning to get a bad feeling about this. It stands to reason that if Best was fully healthy, the doctors would have no hesitation in giving him medical clearance. "There was a lot of testing done, and different stuff like that," Schwartz said. "A lot of opinions going back and forth." We should have a more concrete answer on Best's status by the end of this week.
Source: Anwar Richardson on Twitter
Mon, Oct 15, 2012 04:01:00 PM
Jahvid Best - RB - Lions

Lions coach Jim Schwartz refused to update Jahvid Best's (concussions) status at Monday's press conference.

Schwartz claimed he's "really not in the loop when it comes to the decision" before saying Best's doctors are "still in the talking stage." The Lions treat injury information like the Manhattan Project, but it's hard to believe they'd remain so publicly noncommittal on Best's status if they were getting good news. Best is eligible to come off the PUP list this week.
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter
Mon, Oct 15, 2012 02:32:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Matthew Stafford
2Shaun Hill
3Kellen Moore
4Alex Carder
RB1Reggie Bush
2Mikel Leshoure
3Joique Bell
4Theo Riddick
5Steven Miller
GLB1Mikel Leshoure
2Reggie Bush
3RB1Reggie Bush
2Joique Bell
FB1Shaun Chapas
WR11Calvin Johnson
2Ryan Broyles
3Mike Thomas
4Brian Robiskie
5Chastin West
WR21Nate Burleson
2Corey Fuller
3Kris Durham
4Lance Long
5Devin Thomas
WR31Ryan Broyles
TE1Brandon Pettigrew
2Tony Scheffler
3Michael Williams
4Dominique Curry
5Nathan Overbay
K1David Akers
2Havard Rugland