Jahvid Best Injury VIDEO: Injured Running Back Taken To Emergency Room (UPDATE)

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UPDATE:

(AP) 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."

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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.

EARLIER:

(AP) BERKELEY, Calif. -- California tailback Jahvid Best sustained a concussion and was taken to the emergency room after he leapt high into the air, flipped over a defender and landed on the back of his head in the end zone.

Best briefly lost consciousness following the terrifying fall from at least 5 feet, coach Jeff Tedford said after No. 23 Cal's 31-14 loss to Oregon State.

Tedford said initial tests had come back normal.

Best had movement in all of his extremities, Cal spokesman Herb Benenson said. Benenson also said that a preliminary evaluation showed Best sustained a concussion, but more tests were being done before a final diagnosis would be announced by the school. Tedford didn't know whether Best would be kept in the hospital over night.

Best's helmet came off on impact. He vaulted into the air over Oregon State safety Cameron Collins on the 7-yard touchdown run. Best's jersey was removed and he was wearing an oxygen mask when carted out of the stadium. Benenson said Best was taken to an emergency room for observation and examination.

Best missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday with a slight concussion sustained in the team's 23-21 win at Arizona State last Saturday, but participated in full during Thursday's workout. The concussion wasn't diagnosed right away.

Tedford said the fact Best has sustained two concussions in a week's span would be taken seriously.
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"I'm sure that will be talked about," Tedford said. "He will be evaluated very closely, no question about it. There's no way we'd take a chance with any of our players."

The latest injury - with 6:07 before halftime - silenced Memorial Stadium, where fans chanted "Jahvid! Jahvid!" before everything went quiet. At least one family member was among those around the 20-year-old junior.

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. The game was delayed 13 minutes. Some of Oregon State's players who were on the field at the time huddled together in support.

Before play resumed, Tedford told his players Best was moving and assured them he would be OK.

"That took the worry off us. We were holding our breath and able to exhale," safety Sean Cattouse said. "It was a hard moment for us to see Jahvid go down like that. There was silence. When he was staying down there, it got scary."

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

Cal quarterback Kevin Riley took a hard hit with 1:19 left in the first half and was helped to the sideline. He returned in the second half.

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Comments

[lionzion]

Get Well Soon!!!...

[kinghq1]

First and foremost my prayers are with Best and his Family.

"Best missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday with a slight concussion sustained in the team's 23-21 win at Arizona State last Saturday . . . The concussion wasn't diagnosed right away."

This young man should NOT have been playing. Look at everything that is happening right now in the NFL regarding concussions. There should be a formal investigation by the NCAA into this. He should never have been in the Game. I have been an Emergency Medical Technician for 20 years, Sports Trainers are some of the best trained medical personal. BUT they are under tremendous pressure by the Departments they work for, Teams, Family Members and the players they are suppose to help to keep a good player playing.

If you want a good example of what a concussion can do, look at Muhammad Ali. Best boxer that ever lived.