Cal RB Jahvid Best released from hospital, will miss at least 1 game following concussion

Cal tailback Jahvid Best released from hospital

BERKELEY, Calif. — California star tailback Jahvid Best was released from the hospital Sunday and will miss at least one game after sustaining a concussion on a terrifying fall in the end zone.

Best spent the night at Highland General Hospital in Oakland for observation and tests after landing on the back of his head in the end zone and being briefly knocked unconscious in the Golden Bears’ 31-14 loss to Oregon State on Saturday night.

“We are relieved and thankful that Jahvid has been released from the hospital and that his CT scans and X-rays have come back normal,” coach Jeff Tedford said Sunday.

Best was hurt on a 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He vaulted into the air over Oregon State safety Cameron Collins and fell on the back of his head from at least 5 feet. His helmet came off on impact and he briefly lost consciousness. Best’s jersey was removed and he was wearing an oxygen mask when carted out of the stadium.

His teammates went down on their knees and waited, then moved to the end zone as trainers and doctors took him away on a stretcher to go to the emergency room.

“I was scared for him,” Cal cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson said after the game. “He fell so awkwardly and he just laid there. I said a prayer for him and his family.”

Best sustained a slight concussion the previous week against Arizona State and missed two days of practice last week. Tedford said the team would be cautious with Best, keeping him out of this week’s game against Arizona before deciding when he will play next.

The Bears (6-3, 3-3 Pac-10) have games remaining at Stanford on Nov. 21 and at Washington on Dec. 5, as well as a likely bowl game.

Best, one of the most dynamic running backs in the country and a preseason Heisman Trophy contender, has 16 touchdowns and 867 yards rushing this season. He also has 22 catches for 213 yards. He had 29 yards on nine carries Saturday.

In his absence, the Bears will count on Shane Vereen, who has rushed for 386 yards and scored eight touchdowns this season.