Ross calls Heyward's return from concussion "doubtful" before season ends

Cubs manager David Ross placed the chances of Jason Heyward playing again this season as "doubtful."

The veteran outfielder went on the concussion injured list Sept. 14, after getting kneed in the head by San Francisco's Brandon Crawford on a slide into third base.

"I think in his mind, he wants to do everything he can to get back," Ross said before Wednesday's game at Wrigley Field. "It's just such a tricky injury. He went through some exertion tests yesterday, came out OK, I would say. He's going to run those again today.

"In my mind, talking to him and starting to count down days (left in the season), the word I'd probably use is doubtful. But we're definitely holding out hope. I think he just enjoys playing baseball and wants to be back with the guys."

After Wednesday's game against the Twins, the Cubs have three series and 10 games left in the regular season.

Ross has tried to help guide Heyward during this experience, since the former Cubs catcher had a bad concussion during his playing days.

"Mine happened over two back-to-back foul tips, straight back and I was a mess for a little bit," Ross said. "Then I tried to come back too fast. Once I saw a guy in Pittsburgh that developed the impact tests that everybody takes, he put me through a series of tests and ... just painted a picture for me that made a lot more sense.

"It is tough. I also feel like I have a sense of what he's going through and so I try to help talk him through some moments of things I've been through and things I've seen and the knowledge I've gained from going through a lot of that in my career.

"It's such a hard injury to deal with because there's no X-ray to take, there's no test that's really going to tell you you're concussed. So listening to your body, how you feel. Some of the symptoms he's had, I can definitely relate to and I've talked to him multiple times about those. I hope I'm being helpful."

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