ALLEN PARK -- Jahvid Best has given the Lions explosion in the running game that no one in these parts has seen for a while.

Imagine what Best could do if he was healthy.

On Thursday the Lions running back was named the NFL’s rookie offensive player of the month for September.

Best has been hampered by turf toe all along. First on his left big toe and now on his right big toe.

He’s learning to deal with the pain.

“I bet if you asked all the running backs in our league nobody is feeling 100 percent healthy right now, it’s just part of the game,’’ Best said.

He didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but said there’s a good chance he’ll be able to play on Sunday in Green Bay.

“I’ll give it a go (in practice on Friday) and see how it feels but it’s gotten a lot better, better than I thought it was going to get,’’ Best said. “It’s looking real good (for Sunday) right now.’’

In three games he carried 38 times for 124 yards, caught 16 balls for 183 yards and scored the Lions’ first five touchdowns of the season (four of them rushing).

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)