Free agent RB Kevin Smith worked out for the Colts.

Smith has been on the street since becoming a free agent after last season. The Colts are in the market for a No. 3 back with Ahmad Bradshaw (neck) done for the year, but no signing has been made yet.

The New York Daily News reports the Giants have "spoken to the agents" of free agent RBs Kevin Smith and Ryan Grant.

Free agent Tim Hightower is believed to be another possibility. The Giants are rummaging deep through the recycle bin, but it's unclear if any of the three will even get a workout, let alone sign. For now, the G-Men appear content to stand pat. That will likely change once vested veterans don't have to be guaranteed contracts after Week 1.

Although impending free agent Kevin Smith would like to re-sign with the Lions, he expressed disappointment with his 2012 role.

"Very, very disappointing, especially coming off the year I had last year coming back," said Smith, adding that he was never given a reason for his demotion. "I guess I wasn't good enough on a 4-12 team. ... I guess the guys that were in front of me made enough plays to keep me on the bench."

Kevin Smith was held to one catch for four yards in Detroit's Week 16 loss to the Falcons.

It's the first time Smith had been involved in a game since Week 12. A free agent after the season, Smith won't be returning with the Lions in 2013.

Kevin Smith didn't touch the ball in Detroit's Week 14 loss to the Packers.

That makes it two games, zero touches for Smith going back to Week 13. Smith should survive the rest of the season on Detroit's roster, but there are no guarantees beyond that.

Kevin Smith recorded zero touches in the Lions' Week 13 loss to the Colts.

The only snaps Smith saw were as a third-down pass protector for Matthew Stafford. When Mikel Leshoure needed a break, it was a red-hot Joique Bell that came on. There's no upside in stashing Smith in any format.

Kevin Smith played 19 snaps to Joique Bell's 10 in Week 11 versus the Packers.

We noted Sunday that Smith had overtaken Bell on third downs. The Lions didn't have a lead in the fourth quarter, so there's no telling if Bell still retains the "closer" role. Coach Jim Schwartz didn't address the changing roles on Monday and apparently wasn't asked about Bell's demotion. We should have a better read on the situation before Thursday's game versus the Texans.

Lions declared RB Kevin Smith, CBs Jacob Lacey and Bill Bentley, OLs Jason Fox and Corey Hilliard, and DE Ronnell Lewis inactive for Monday night's game against the Bears.

Smith has fallen behind Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell on the depth chart. Third-string running back Stefan Logan offers special teams ability. Jonte Green is expected to start opposite Chris Houston with Lacey (concussion) and Bentley (shoulder) out. Kellen Moore is the third quarterback.

Kevin Smith is pessimistic about his chances of climbing the depth chart.

Smith was a healthy scratch in Week 6 as he's fallen behind Mikel Leshoure, Joique Bell and Keiland Williams. When asked what he can do to get back in the rotation, Smith said, "Probably nothing." Even with Jahvid Best (concussions) now done for the year, Smith will probably need an injury to garner any fantasy attention.

Beat writer Anwar Richardson believes Kevin Smith will be released if Jahvid Best (concussions) gets cleared.

Smith is a healthy scratch in Week 6. Per Richardson, the coaches "believe he didn't hit the hole hard enough, and lacked a burst of speed" during his short-lived stint as the starter this season. Smith is now clearly behind Mikel Leshoure, Joique Bell and Keiland Williams on the depth chart.

Kevin Smith did not play a single offensive snap in the Lions' Week 4 loss to the Vikings.

Smith has tumbled down the depth chart, now slotting in behind Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell. Leshoure touched the football 17 times against Minnesota. Bell got seven touches and totaled a team-high 74 yards operating in the change-of-pace back role. We wouldn't be surprised if Smith encountered fantasy value before the season is up, but for now he's an RB5/waiver wire fodder.

Kevin Smith was held out of the boxscore in Week 4 versus the Vikings.

We didn't see him on the field at any point. Mikel Leshoure was the clear feature back, and Joique Bell took over in the two-minute drill, taking advantage of a prevent defense for six receptions and 72 yards. Smith has no fantasy value beyond the dime-a-dozen roster stash.

Lions OC Scott Linehan conceded that it will be difficult to find playing time for Kevin Smith following Mikel Leshoure's Week 3 breakout performance.

"It's really hard," Linehan said. "The game plan is going to be the factor for him. If we're using single-back looks on a number of occasions, there's only going to be one in there." Barring injury, Smith will be limited to a change-of-pace role going forward. He's nothing more than an end-of-the-roster stash in fantasy leagues.

Coach Jim Schwartz said he intended for Kevin Smith to be the third-down back in the Week 3 loss to the Titans.

Schwartz declined to publicly demote Smith. "That was more about the situations [the Titans] were in," he said. "As the game went on, [Mikel] Leshoure was doing well in some of those roles and we kept him on the field. We use all those guys. There's really no depth chart when it comes to our running backs. They're all in different packages and they're all valuable to us." The truth is that Smith received zero touches and lost backup duties to Joique Bell.

Kevin Smith operated as the clear No. 3 running back in the Lions' Week 3 loss to the Titans.

Mikel Leshoure started and was the workhorse. When he got tired, the Lions turned to Joique Bell. Smith didn't receive a single touch and it now looks like he'll need a Leshoure injury to regain a meaningful role.

Kevin Smith received zero touches in Week 3 against the Titans.

Mikel Leshoure started the game in his return from suspension and saw the vast majority of the work out of the Detroit backfield. Smith was in for, maybe, a handful of snaps, playing only on third-and-very-long. Joique Bell even saw nine touches, working mostly in the overtime period. Smith showed very little in the run game through the season's first two weeks and has been pushed deep down the depth chart.

Mikel Leshoure is starting over Kevin Smith for the Lions against the Titans in Week 3.

Leshoure is returning from suspension and seems to have already passed Smith in the Detroit backfield. Smith took the bulk of the first-team reps early in the week, but the Lions aren't happy with his early-down work in 2012. Leshoure is expected to see close to 15 touches, while Smith can likely expect 8-10 for himself as the likely third-down back.

Kevin Smith took most of the first-team reps during the open portion of Wednesday's practice.

Newly reinstated Mikel Leshoure was right behind Smith. We still don't know exactly what the Lions have planned for Leshoure in his NFL debut, but Smith will likely draw the start against the Titans. Our Season Pass ranks Smith 32nd among fantasy running backs this week. Leshoure is 41st.

Kevin Smith rushed 17 times for 53 yards in Sunday's loss to the 49ers, adding two catches for 17 yards.

Smith was absent for large chunks of the first and second quarters, leading to speculation he had been hurt. It turned out the Lions were just giving Joique Bell a shot against the 49ers' dominant front seven after Smith experienced little success (three carries, five yards) on their first two drives. As it is, Smith bounced back for an acceptable night against the league's top run defenses, but left yards on the field - as he's been known to do - fouling up a number of runs with slips and tumbles. Smith is talented enough to keep the Lions' rushing attack from being an utter embarrassment and to operate as an RB3/flex in fantasy leagues, but it will be interesting to see how his role changes with the return of Mikel Leshoure in Week 3. It might not be the worst idea to "sell high."

The Free Press believes Kevin Smith will "be hard-pressed to keep the starting job" when Mikel Leshoure comes off suspension.