Lions' Best expected to be cleared for contact in June

Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best, who missed 11 games last year after sustaining his second concussion of the season, is expected to be cleared for football contact in June, according to what Lions general manager Martin Mayhew told a radio station, the Lions' official website reported Tuesday.

"He's been doing everything in the offseason program and we expect he'll be cleared sometime probably in June," Mayhew told Mike O'Hara and Ken Brown on WJR radio on Monday night. "We look forward to having him on the field."

Best has had a number of concussions in his college and pro career, and the Lions have been cautious with him.

But it appears Best will be a participant in all activities in June's mini-camp and in training camp, which begins in late July.

"Those doctors felt like it just made sense to do that in June," Mayhew said. "It gives him the most time. We are not doing anything (now) that involves any contact and he's been cleared to do everything that we're doing right now and he'll be officially cleared for contact in June."

Best rushed for 555 yards and had 487 receiving yards in 18 games, including nine starts, in 2010 as a rookie, and he ran for 390 yards with 287 receiving yards in six games, all starts, in 2011.