National Football League

Best won't play against Falcons

Published Oct. 21, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Detroit running back Jahvid Best has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Atlanta because of a concussion, and the Lions also put running back Jerome Harrison on the reserve/non-football illness list after he was reportedly diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Coach Jim Schwartz said any details on Harrison's condition would have to come from the player. Citing NFL sources it did not identify, ESPN reported this week that Harrison's tumor was revealed when he had a physical after being dealt by Detroit to Philadelphia in a trade that was voided by that discovery.

The Detroit Free Press, citing teammates, reported that the running back was to have surgery Friday.

''I had a chance to visit with him this morning,'' Schwartz said. ''He was in very good spirits, but after that, I don't know if I want to talk too much.''

Schwartz said earlier this week that Best began experiencing ''concussion-like symptoms'' after last weekend's loss to San Francisco. Best also missed time during this preseason because of a concussion, and when he was a college player at California, he missed a few games after a fall knocked him out and sent him to the hospital with a concussion and sore back.

The Lions were sending Harrison to the Eagles in a trade that would have brought running back Ronnie Brown to Detroit. That deal was voided, and Harrison's health is now foremost on the team's mind.

''It puts a lot of things in perspective,'' Lions receiver Nate Burleson said.

Harrison's agent, Mitch Frankel, did not return phone and email messages. Bob Kubiak, who coached Harrison in high school in Kalamazoo, said his thoughts are with his former player.

''If anybody's going to beat whatever he's got, that would be this guy,'' Kubiak said.

The Lions signed running back Eldra Buckley while moving Harrison to the reserve list. Buckley played for Philadelphia the past two seasons.

Detroit linebacker Justin Durant, also recovering from a concussion, says he expects to play Sunday.

''I feel as good as I think I can feel right now,'' Durant said. ''Hopefully I'm 100 (percent) and hopefully I'm OK.''

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