A bright spot on the first 0-16 team in NFL history, running back Kevin Smith deserved better during his stay in Detroit.
But he never fully recovered from a torn ACL at the end of the 2009 season, and struggled with injuries in 2010 as well. The Lions didn’t offer Smith a restricted free agent tender on Thursday, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. That’s especially significant because Smith is only a third-year player. They could have easily retained Smith’s rights if they wanted to.
The Lions have Jahvid Best and Maurice Morris atop their depth chart heading into next year. Smith now becomes an unrestricted free agent.