Concussion keeps Lions' Best on bench

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DETROIT, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best sat out practice Sunday after suffering a concussion in Friday's 30-28 exhibition win over Cleveland, the team said.

Best was injured in a helmet-to-helmet hit from Cleveland's Joe Haden on the Lions' first offensive play in the exhibition game, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Coach Jim Schwartz downplayed the seriousness of Best's injury.

"When he was originally on the sideline he was, I don't want to say bell-rung, but he was bell-rung and then he recovered pretty quickly," Schwartz said.

"At that point we weren't going to put him back in the game, but then he started to experience a little headache, so we took him in (the locker room) and declared him out of the game, but by the next day he was clearing up. I think that's a big thing."

Best said after the game he would have continued to play had it been a regular season matchup.

Best did not present severe symptoms after the game, Schwartz said.

"But we'll take it slow with him, just based on his situation from a couple years ago," Schwartz said, referring to Best's missing the final four games of his junior season at Cal after suffering a serious concussion against Oregon State.

"We'll just be very, very cautious with him."