Detroit Lions: Jahvid Best Placed on PUP List, Kevin Smith Likely to Begin Season as No. 1

By Raj Prashad
Senior Writer

Following a successful rookie campaign where he played in all 16 games, concussion issues have hindered the development of Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best.

Those issues, which held Best out of 10 games last year, has forced the Lions to move the 23-year-old back on the PUP list, which will keep him out until at least Week 6.

It has been over nine months since the latest head injury occurred and Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has been publicly vocal on his disappointment with Best’s concussion concerns.

“Everything was trending toward him being ready to go the first day of training camp,” Mayhew said before practice July 31. “It didn’t happen that way, so you have to kind of adjust. We have adjusted our expectation on that.”

With Best out for at least the first five games of the year, the Lions will be expected to rely heavily on Kevin Smith, assuming he’s healthy once the season rolls around.

In place of Best last season, Smith rushed the ball 72 times for 356 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, the best average of his career.

Until Mikel Leshore returns from his two-game suspension, Keiland Williams will be delegated to backup duties behind Smith, all but guaranteeing Joique Bell a roster spot.

As for Best, all the Lions brass can do is wait.

“It’s really frustrating and it’s like (coach Jim Schwartz) has said before, it’s not like a hamstring,” Mayhew said. “This is a unique medical situation that’s different for every individual and it’s totally out of our control. It’s totally up to the best experts around the country. He’s got a battery of doctors; you get on a conference call and there’s 20 guys on the call. So he’s got the experts and those guys will make a determination when he’s ready to play.”

Until then, the Lions will have to do the best with what they’ve got, which could ultimately lead to an even larger reliance on the explosive pass attack.

Follow Raj on Twitter: @RajPrashad

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