"Kevin Smith sees reminders everywhere of the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in December.

The scar on his left knee. The brace he wears on the field. Even the first-round pick who sits a couple of stalls away in the Lions' locker room.

Smith returned from December knee surgery Saturday to play 12 snaps in an exhibition win over the Denver Broncos. He carried three times, gained 6 yards, and pronounced himself "close" to 100% on Monday.

"Some days, I can wake up and forget I even had the surgery," Smith said. "Some days, I can wake up and wonder how I'm going to get through the day. That just comes the part with an ACL. But it'll get better. In four months, when I'm a year out, I'll feel better. Next off-season, I should feel great."

The sooner Smith returns to form, the better for the Lions, who are counting on the third-year pro to be at least a complementary piece in their new-look backfield.

Rookie Jahvid Best has started both exhibitions, and there's no reason to think he won't keep the job come September. The Lions traded up to get Best in April's draft, and he's exactly the kind of explosive, multidimensional back coordinator Scott Linehan likes in his offense."