NFL Injuries: Which NFL stars deserve career re-do?
player. 50. . RB. Lions. Jahvid Best. 12
When Jahvid Best came into the league, there were already question marks surrounding his health. In college, he suffered a tremendous concussion where he was flipped into the end zone by a defender and he landed squarely on his head. It was one of the scariest head injuries caught on film and his football career was in jeopardy.
It was in California’s ninth game of the season against Oregon State in which he was carted off the field and never put on a Golden Bears jersey again. During that junior year, he finished with 867 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The year before, he broke out, starting all 12 games he appeared in and rushing for 1,580 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging an unheard of 8.1 yards per carry. His draft stock was through the roof and that’s why he declared following his concussion in November of 2009.
Detroit drafted him No. 30 overall in the first round and during his rookie season, the early selection looked to pay off for the Lions. He played in all 16 games, staying healthy and rushing for 555 yards and four scores while catching 58 passes for 487 yards and two touchdowns. He was a dynamic playmaker who made Detroit’s offense scary.
The concussion problems crawled their way back into his life the next season as he suffered another one in the preseason. He came back in October, started six games and looked healthy, but then his season, and ultimately his career was ended following a third concussion.
Best could be one of the league’s top backs now if it weren’t for the string of head injuries that cut his career short in 2011.
Next: 11. Darren McFadden