Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press suggests the Lions only want free agent Kevin Smith back "under the right circumstances."

Smith's injury history is a deterrent to guaranteed money, and the Lions already have question marks in Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure. The team may opt to go with a more reliable third back who can also contribute on special teams.

Free agent Kevin Smith strongly reiterated his desire to re-sign with the Lions this offseason.

"In every interview that I've done, even though I'm a free agent, I've referred to the team and me as us," Smith said. "I'm on the Lions roster in my opinion until I'm not on the Lions roster. That says it all." The Lions front office has been tight-lipped about its plans for Smith.

Free agent Kevin Smith is hopeful of returning to the Lions in 2012.

Although Smith proved to be valuable for the Lions down the stretch this season, his return will be anything but a sure thing with Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure, Keiland Williams and Joique Bell all already under contract for the Lions in 2012. Smith also proved to be typically injury prone in 2011, never surpassing 49 yards rushing after picking up a nagging ankle injury in Week 12. He has entered the offseason healthy, however.

Kevin Smith rushed just six times for 21 yards and added two receptions for 20 yards against the Saints in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

The Lions came out with an aggressive pass-heavy attack, and the Saints successfully played keep-away in the second half. As a result, the ground game was an afterthought. Neither Maurice Morris nor Keiland Williams touched the ball. Although the impending free agent seems likely to return to Detroit as a coaching staff favorite, his role is up in the air with Jahvid Best (Concussions) and Mikel Leshoure (Achilles) returning.

Kevin Smith (ankle, knee) is listed as probable for the Wild Card round.

Smith was limited in practice each day this week, but he will start Saturday's game at New Orleans. The Saints have struggled in run defense all year.

Kevin Smith (ankle, knee) was limited again in Thursday's practice.

As was Calvin Johnson (Achilles), though both players are fully expected to start at New Orleans Saturday night. Smith is dealing with general soreness after Wednesday's practice collision with Tony Scheffler.

After Wednesday's scary in-practice collision with TE Tony Scheffler, Kevin Smith appeared on the Lions' injury report with "knee and ankle" ailments.

Smith was "limited" in practice, but able to finish the workout. He told reporters Wednesday afternoon that he's 100 percent aside from some soreness from the collision. "I'm glad there's not some new rule that you're not allowed to wear helmets (in practice)," said coach Jim Schwartz. "Because we might have a couple broken jaws that we're dealing with right now."

According to Lions coach Jim Schwartz, both Kevin Smith and Tony Scheffler were able to finish practice after a nasty collision on Wednesday.

Schwartz assured both players were "fine" after a thundering encounter that left Smith momentarily staggered. Unless Smith wakes up with unusual soreness Thursday, it appears he escaped the incident without tweaking the ankle injury that's dogged him since Thanksgiving. As long as he's healthy, Smith will dominate the snaps in Detroit's backfield against the Saints.

Kevin Smith limped off the field after a collision with Tony Scheffler in Wednesday's practice.

The two players were looking the other way and didn't see other. One reported described the hit on Smith as "nasty," and trainers had to help him up. The Lions closed practice to the media shortly thereafter, so there's no update just yet on Smith's status.

Kevin Smith rushed for 35 yards on nine carries and caught four balls for 26 yards and a touchdown as the Lions fell to the Packers in Week 17.

Maurice Morris only had four carries, so this wasn't a case of Smith devolving into a committee back. The Lions simply threw the football all day, as Matthew Stafford finished with 59 pass attempts. Smith is a slightly above replacement-level pure running back, but his versatility has been a huge late-season addition for the Lions. He'll be the feature back during the playoffs. Detroit heads to the Superdome in Week 18.

Kevin Smith (ankle) is practicing in full this week.

Smith is healthy enough to play in Week 17, but there are indications that the Lions will hold him out against the Packers, or at least keep him on a carry and snap count. Fantasy owners still playing should look elsewhere for Sunday.

The Detroit Free Press confirms that Kevin Smith (ankle) resting in Week 17 is a possibility after the Lions signed Joique Bell on Monday.

Smith has been gutting it out through what the Free Press continues to call a high ankle sprain, and his per-play performance has waned recently. The Lions can't move much in the postseason standings with a Week 17 victory, so holding out any nicked-up players would seem to be in their best interest.

Kevin Smith (ankle) is active for Week 16.

Kevin Smith (ankle) is listed as probable for Week 16 after turning in a full week of practice.

He should be as healthy as he's been since signing with the Lions in November. Smith disappointed in Week 15, in large part because Detroit fell behind 27-14 to the Raiders, but word out of Detroit is that he's looked noticeably better this week and says he's nearing 100 percent health. The Lions are sticking with Smith as their every-down back, and he's now facing a weak Chargers run defense. He's an intriguing upside play as an RB2.

Kevin Smith (ankle) was a full participant in Lions practice for the second straight day Thursday.

Smith is a full-go for Saturday's game against the Dolphins, and will again dominate the touches in Detroit's backfield. He's Rotoworld's 28th ranked running back for Week 16.

Updating an earlier item, Kevin Smith (ankle) was a full participant in Lions practice Wednesday.

This confirms that Smith came out of Sunday's win over the Raiders without further injury, and will be Detroit's feature back against the Chargers on Christmas Eve. The only Lions' running back worth playing during the fantasy finals, consider Smith a boom-or-bust RB2 against San Diego's middling run defense.

Kevin Smith was dressed for Lions practice Wednesday.

Kevin Smith (ankle) was never officially removed from Sunday's win over the Raiders.

It was obvious from the get go Smith was at far less than 100 percent, but he was never forced to the sideline by the high-ankle sprain that's limited him since Thanksgiving. The fact that he received just one fourth-quarter touch was solely the result of the Lions having to rally from a 27-14 deficit. Smith has to make some progress in practice this week to be considered a viable RB2 for the fantasy finals.

Kevin Smith rushed 15 times for just 43 yards and added one reception for three yards against the Raiders in Week 15.

Smith had no room to run against a defense that was gashed by Ryan Grant a week ago, but this was still his worst performance since re-signing with Detroit. Although he did play all three downs as the feature back, Smith dropped two easy passes and failed to make defenders miss on the ground. We'd like to see him increase his practice work this week before recommending him as a RB2 versus the Chargers.

Kevin Smith (ankle) is active and will start against the Raiders in Week 15.

Smith is a bit of an injury risk, but we're confidently starting him as a solid RB2 in an excellent matchup after practices on Thursday and Friday. Smith has been a three-down back when in the lineup, so Maurice Morris has no flex appeal this week. Lions inactives: QB Drew Stanton, FS Louis Delmas, CB Aaron Berry, RB Aaron Brown, DE Keyunta Dawson, OG Leonard Davis and DE Lawrence Jackson.