Lions RB Jahvid Best Not Cleared To Play This Season.

Detroit Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew announced today that RB Jahvid Best will not be cleared to play football this season.

“After today’s consultation with medical experts, including representatives from our medical and training staffs, it has been determined that Jahvid will not be permitted to return to play at this time”  Mayhew continued via DetroitLions.com  “While today’s decision is disappointing from a football perspective, we fully and entirely respect and support this recommendation.”

Best, who was eligible to come off the PUP list today, said last Monday that he wouldn’t consider retirement if he wasn’t cleared for a return. Best might find difficult to play again, as NFL teams will probably stay away in order to prevent him from suffering any further injury to his brain.

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Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz didn’t provide an update regarding the status of RB Jahvid Best following Sunday’s win over the Eagles, according to Anwar S. Richardson of MLive.com.

Best underwent neurological tests a week ago and is eligible to come off of the team’s physically unable to perform list today. We were expecting to hear something regarding his status last Friday, but the Lions have not disclosed any information regarding his results.

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Anwar Richardson of MLive.com writes that Lions could release running back Kevin Smith if Jahvid Best is able to return to the field this season.

Smith entered the season as the Lions starting running back, due to the fact that Best has been dealing with concussion symptoms and Mikel Leshoure was suspended for a few games. Since then, Leshoure has taken over as the team’s starting running back, with Joique Bell working as his backup.

The Lions haven’t released Best’s test results, but he has a chance of returning in week 7, so Smith’s time in Detroit could be coming to an end in the near future.