Going into this season, Lions offensive tackle Jeff Backus never missed three consecutive practices since joining the Lions back in 2001. However an injury to a chest muscle held him out of practice for an extended period of time, something Backus and the Lions weren’t too accustom too.
Sunday, Backus made his return to the team.
“It was a first for me,” he said. “In the past, I’ve been hurt, but I’ve never missed more than two days in a row, three days in a row. This was three and a half weeks. Just to get out there and get ready for the season – be one of the guys. I just want to do my part.”
His offensive line-mates were also excited to see him back, especially Rob Sims…
“He’s a great guy to play next to,” Sims said. “I’ve learned a lot from him already, and this is our second year together. Hopefully we can put it all together again.
Unfortunately for the Lions, not all the news was good today. Running back Jahvid Best was held out due to a concussion he suffered during the Lions’ first offensive series in Friday’s preseason match-up with the Browns.
“When he was originally on the sideline he was bell-rung and then he recovered pretty quickly,” coach Jim Schwartz said Sunday when he was asked about Best. “Then he started to experience a little headache so we took him in (the locker room).
“By the next day he was clearing up and I think that’s a big thing. In my experience with guys that have been concussed, usually they finish the game and they feel fine right after the game, and the next day they come in and haven’t slept and all the classic symptoms.”
Schwartz indicated that Best didn’t have any of those classic symptoms…
“But we’ll take it slow with him just based on his situation from a couple years ago and we’ll just be very, very cautious with him,” Schwartz said. “But we should have him back on the practice field soon.”
Source: Mlive.com, Detroit News