Lions place Jahvid Best on PUP list

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Don't look for Jahvid Best in a Lions uniform anytime soon.

The team annouced Monday afternoon the third-year running back will start the regular season on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. He will not be allowed to practice with the team for the first six weeks of the season, and subsequently, will not play in the Lions first five games.

"That's within the range of where the doctors wanted him to be. It's never an easy decision, but that made it easier," head coach Jim Schwartz said.

Best is coming off two concussions suffered during the 2011 season. He has a history with concussions dating back to his college days at the University of California.

Then it gets complicated.

After the sixth week of the season, Best can return right away or be put on a return plan. The team has the option to use a 21-day window to place Best on a 21-day plan that will keep him off the field. The policy basically gives the Lions six weeks to bring Best back to practice.

So we could see Best line up in practice as soon as Week 7, as late as Week 13, or not at all.

"Like I've been saying, he looks extremely good in all his physical stuff, so we'll see."

Joining Best on the PUP list is rookie cornerback Chris Greenwood, who tore an abdominal muscle during offseason workouts.