"Rookie running back Jahvid Best took the night off for the Lions exhibition finale at Ford Field Thursday against the Bills.

That meant running back Kevin Smith got some early work with the first-teamers and played nearly all of the first quarter.

As the team's starting running back the past two seasons, playing more than just a couple series in the fourth and final exhibition game is something Smith isn't used to.

Starters usually play only a series or two in the final exhibition game.

Smith's extended work is partly because of his continued effort to fully recover from offseason knee surgery.

But it also speaks to his new role on this team.

Best has replaced Smith as the starter. But that doesn't mean Smith can't still be a productive part of the offense.

"I've always been confident and my mind has always been telling me what I want to do, but my body hasn't been reacting thus far," he said. "But it's starting to pick up."

Smith rushed four times for 18 yards and caught three passes for 21 yards. Smith had a 13-yard run between the tackles on his first rushing attempt and kept the team's first drive alive with a 12-yard catch on third down.

Smith showed that he can still make plays.

"I'm just trying to get better. I had to start from scratch," he said.

The Lions moved back into the first round of April's draft toBest and he has been impressive through training camp and his first three preseason games. He has won the starting job."