Kevin Smith was the Lions' feature back in Sunday's 27-23 win over the Rams, carrying the ball 13 times for 62 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for 29 yards and another score.

It wasn't a perfect afternoon for Smith, as he dropped two passes and slipped on a run that would have given the Lions a first down, but he looked 100 percent healthy, and was the only Lions back tasked with any sort of workload. Backups Keiland Williams and Joique Bell combined for only three touches. Smith's injury history is well-documented, but there's every reason to believe he can operate as a serviceable RB2/flex option early in the season. Things won't be easy in Week 2, however, where Detroit travels to San Francisco to take on the 49ers' beastly front seven.

Kevin Smith is not listed on the Lions' Week 1 injury report.

Smith tweaked his ankle in Detroit's August 25 preseason game, but he's practicing without limitations this week and the "injury" is now water under the bridge. Look for Smith to flirt with 20 touches Sunday against St. Louis.

Kevin Smith (ankle) participated in Lions practice Monday.

The Lions won't release an official injury report until Wednesday, but the signs here are really good for Smith. Questionable players such as Louis Delmas (knee) and Chris Houston (ankle) were limited to individual work inside on Monday while Smith was outside with his teammates. The August 25 ankle sprain was just a "minor tweak."

Kevin Smith never even needed a walking boot after rolling his right ankle Sunday night.

The Lions sound relieved and optimistic on Smith's status. Coach Jim Schwartz called it a short-term injury and a medical evaluation revealed a minor tweak. "I've got all my movement," Smith said. "Obviously it's fresh and I still have some swelling, but it's good." He appears on track to start against the Rams in Week 1.

The Detroit News confirms that Kevin Smith's Saturday night ankle injury was not severe.

The paper is characterizing it as a "twisted" ankle, and suggests Smith won't even miss any practice time. "I just got scared being under that pile of big guys," Smith said. "I was scared it was another high ankle sprain and I know how long it took me to get back healthy from that. It's not a high ankle sprain, so that's a positive." Although his durability remains an ongoing concern, Smith can be drafted in fantasy leagues just as he was pre-ankle scare.

Kevin Smith told reporters following Saturday night's preseason game that X-rays came back negative for a fracture of his right ankle, and he also does not have a high ankle sprain.

Kevin Smith exited Saturday night's preseason game with a right ankle injury.

Smith slammed his helmet on the sideline in frustration. It's the same ankle Smith injured late last season, and a definite concern entering the biggest week for fantasy football drafts of the preseason. Smith has looked very sharp all August, but his durability concerns don't appear to be going away. Mikel Leshoure was thoroughly ineffective in Saturday night's game, playing 18 snaps. Leshoure gained one yard on five rushing attempts.

After resurrecting his career late last season, Kevin Smith insists he feels the best he's ever felt physically.

"It's the best I have ever felt," he said. "I'm just taking care of my body and just working hard and just blessed to be in this position health wise. I'm feeling excellent." Through two preseason games, Smith has nine carries for 39 yards (4.33 YPC) plus three catches for 28 yards. Durability remains a concern, but Smith's ADP has understandably skyrocketed to the sixth round of drafts.

News of Jahvid Best's impending stint on reserve/PUP all but locks in Kevin Smith as the Lions' primary ball carrier to open the season.

Best (concussions) definitely won't play in the first six games, and he may not play at all this season. Mikel Leshoure (Achilles') still can't get off the shelf and is likely to struggle after he returns from two-game suspension. The Lions may explore a weak free agent market (Ryan Grant?), but Smith possesses three-down ability and should be locked into 15-18 touches a game to open the season. His current ADP is mid-seventh round, and should keep on rising.

Kevin Smith is considered the Lions' best pass-protector among running backs.

It's yet another reason Smith is trending up right now. The Lions are a pass-first team and Smith excels in that area of the game. Despite playing hurt in five of his seven appearances last season, he still racked up 22 catches for 179 yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Kevin Smith is listed as the starting running back on the Lions' first depth chart of training camp.

It's out of sight, out of mind for Jahvid Best (concussion). We suspect the veteran Smith would have gotten the nod over Mikel Leshoure, though, had the latter not missed the past nine days with a hamstring injury. While this news is less than surprising, it's still noteworthy for fantasy purposes. Smith continues to climb the cheat sheets.

Lions RB Kevin Smith says he feels the best he's "ever felt, body-wise and mentally."

Smith has been spectacularly injury prone since coming into the league as a third-round pick in 2008, but says he feels "strong and healthy," and has avoided "nicks and bruises" thus far in camp. With Jahvid Best (concussions) yet to be cleared to practice and Mikel Leshoure suspended for the season's first two games, Smith should open the year with a starting job, but his injury history is reason for serious trepidation in fantasy drafts.

The Detroit News agrees with MLive.com that Kevin Smith is the "frontrunner" to open the season as the Lions' starting running back.

Beat writer Chris McCosky concedes it has as much to do with Smith's "availability" as anything else, but believes he "hasn't looked this physically strong since his rookie year." MLive.com's Anwar Richardson opined Friday that Smith looks "much stronger" than he did in 2011. Things could change quickly if both Jahvid Best (concussions) and Mikel Leshoure (Achilles) prove their health early in the preseason, but it's clear Smith needs to stop slipping to the final rounds of fantasy drafts.

MLive.com's Anwar Richardson considers Kevin Smith "likely" to open the season as the Lions' starting tailback.

Smith took the first-team reps to open training camp with Mikel Leshoure on the twos and Jahvid Best (concussions) awaiting medical clearance. Leshoure is suspended for the first two games, and Best's status is completely up in the air. Smith currently has a middle of the 13th-round Average Draft Position. Being drafted as an RB5, Smith offers nice fantasy value at the low price.

Kevin Smith received the first-team reps at tailback for the Lions on Friday.

With Jahvid Best on active/PUP and Mikel Leshoure out the first two weeks of the season due to a suspension, this makes a ton of sense. Although Best figures to be healthy in time for Week 1, Smith figures to see a healthy dose of snaps early on in the year.

Kevin Smith has added muscle mass while slimming down from 217 pounds to 209 this offseason.

"I'm healthy, so I've been able to attack my lifting," Smith said. He believes he's as quick as he's ever been, and observers have noted that he looks "stronger and more explosive" in OTAs. Smith is an intriguing fantasy wildcard with two question marks in front of him in the Detroit backfield.

Lions re-signed RB Kevin Smith.

The Lions are reportedly in discussions to re-sign free agent RB Kevin Smith.

The versatile Smith should come cheaply enough considering his checkered injury history. The Lions reportedly have visions of a Saints-like backfield with Smith joining Jahvid Best (concussions) and Mikel Leshoure (Achilles).

GM Martin Mayhew confirmed that the Lions are interested in re-signing Kevin Smith.

Smith may be as injury-prone as any back in the NFL, but he was impressive in late-season action whenever he took the field semi-healthy. The Lions could use him in a New Orleans-style three-back committee if he's brought back.

Free agent Kevin Smith indicated Tuesday that the Lions have expressed interest in re-signing him next month.