In October, Lions running back Jahvid Best suffered his latest concussion. Six months later, he has yet to receive the green light to return to the football field.
Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that doctors have not yet given Best full clearance.
Best has been cleared to work out, something he’s been doing since December. And he’ll be present for the start of the team’s offseason program on Monday, since for the first two weeks it consists exclusively of working out.
“We’re just waiting on final clearance with Jahvid,” G.M. Martin Mayhew said. “It’s not like a hamstring where it’s a certain amount of time and a guy’s going to be ready. With the head you have to be careful and be smart. We’re not doing anything right now. There’s no need to rush to judgment on Jahvid’s situation. So we’re very optimistic. He’s doing very well. He feels great. He’s training right now and we’re looking forward to him being cleared.”
The problem is that Best eventually will suffer more blows to the head, given the position that he plays.
It's puzzling that Best still awaits clearance for contact a full six months after his last concussion. He may very well enter the 2012 season as the Lions' RB1, but he will be sharing time with Mikel LeShoure and Kevin Smith who, given Best's injury history, may be better values on draft day.
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