Despite suffering his second concussion of the season against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend, Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz is optimistic that RB Jahvid Best will be able to play against the Atlanta Falcons this weekend:
"Oh, sure," Schwartz said when asked whether Best could play this week. "He just needs to pass all his things. But again, it's a very objective test by neutral doctors."
Best missed the last three series of the game against San Francisco. A speedy 5'10 200 second-year RB out of Cal, he has seen his role expand dramatically this season for the 5-1 Lions. Through six games, he's rushed for 390 yards and 2 TD's with an impressive 4.6 yard-per-carry average.
Losing Best would be a blow for the 25th-ranked Lions rushing attack, which averages only 90.8 yards a game. Schwartz indicated that Marcus Morris and Jerome Harrison would get the majority of the carries in Best's absence; the two have combined for 61 yards on 25 carries this season.