"Running back Kevin Smith didn't want to talk about the 51 rushing yards he amassed Sunday.

He wasn't bragging about two key first-down runs early in the fourth quarter that helped the Lions to a 37-25 victory over the Redskins at Ford Field.

Smith wanted to talk about the key block he made late in the third quarter that allowed quarterback Matthew Stafford to hit receiver Nate Burleson for a 25-yard gain.

"Let's talk about that block," he said. "I got a good block on that play."

Burleson fumbled after making the catch, but the fact Smith was in the game at all late in the third quarter and late into the fourth quarter is a tribute to how far he has come.

Smith tore his ACL in Baltimore late last year and rehabbed for nine months to get back on the field. He's still rehabbing, actually. He said he probably won't be 100 percent until after the season.

In April, the Lions traded up late in the first round of the NFL draft to get running back Jahvid Best. Smith was the team's starting running back his first two seasons, but Best earned the starting spot out of training camp, and it appeared Smith would get lost in the Lions backfield."