"Lions running back Kevin Smith returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a shoulder injury. He was listed as limited, and coach Jim Schwartz left some doubt about his status for Sunday's game at Seattle.

"He's got a long way to go till Sunday, but I'm encouraged," Schwartz said. "Kevin's a tough guy. Kevin's a hardworking guy. I know if he can go on Sunday, he'll go."

But Smith not only sounded as if he would go, he sounded like his ambitious, chip-on-the-shoulder self.

"We're all looking to kind of quiet the critics that Detroit doesn't have a running game," Smith said. "Because I get the ball first, I want to be that tempo-setter and that lead dog. I think enough's enough."

The sled hasn't been moving as well this season, partly because Smith has had shoulder problems. Schwartz has talked about breaking big runs. Smith's longest is 20 yards. He averages 3.1 yards per carry.

Smith's best day of the season was Sept. 27 against Washington, when he rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries. But it was cut short when he left the game with a shoulder injury in the third quarter.

The Lions opened Sunday's game against St. Louis with six consecutive running plays. Smith got the first four carries and most afterward. But again, he left with a shoulder injury in the third quarter.

Schwartz said Smith probably could have returned, but the coaches decided to stick with Maurice Morris. They already had decided to give a few more carries to Morris and Aaron Brown, while keeping Smith as the No. 1 back."