INDIANAPOLIS -- Detroit Lions running Kevin Smith is an unrestricted free agent on paper, but not in his mind.

Smith, 25, re-signed with Detroit last November and had four starts in seven games. He finished the regular season with 72 carries for 356 yards and four touchdowns, plus had 22 receptions for 179 yards and three scores.

Despite having the opportunity to shop his skills around to other NFL teams this offseason, Smith's store is mentally closed.

"In every interview that I've done, even though I'm a free agent, I've referred to the team and me as us," Smith said. "I'm on the Lions roster in my opinion until I'm not on the Lions roster. That says it all."

If Detroit does re-sign Smith, the Lions potentially could have a strong backfield, assuming each player is healthy.

Detroit running back Jahvid Best still is recovering from a series of concussions. Mikel Leshoure, a second-round pick last year, also is recovering from a season-ending Achilles tendon injury sustained in the preseason, while Smith battled through another season of injuries.

"The sky is the limit," Smith said. "I think we're one of the best backfield combinations in the league if that was the scenario. I think a lot of people want to see it. I know my Twitter has blown up numerous times about the backfield and being excited about the potential of our backfield. We'll see, man.

"Those two guys are on the roster. I'm not. We'll see how it shapes out. Either way, Jahvid and Leshoure are two good guys. I haven't seen Leshoure play, but I've watched his college highlights. I've seen what Jahvid can do. It should be a solid group either way."

Smith is a former University of Central Florida standout who was a third-round selection by Detroit in 2008. He showed promise as a rookie, gaining 976 yards and scoring eight touchdowns on 238 carries.

The 6-foot-1, 217-pounder started 13 games in 2009 before suffering a season-ending injury to his left knee. He rushed for 747 yards and four touchdowns prior to his injury. Smith was phased out of the offense with the arrival of Best in 2010.

Detroit decided not to make him an offer when he became a restricted free agent after that season.

After Best sustained a season-ending concussion last season, Detroit re-signed Smith.

He rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns against Carolina, plus had 61 receiving yards and one touchdown during that victory.

Smith later sustained a high-ankle sprain, which he battled through last season.

"It's tough, but you weather the storm and only the strong can survive," Smith said. "You don't do any complaining. You just have that tunnel vision, put your best foot forward and just keep working. That's the only thing you can do as an athlete, which is the way you handle yourself as a professional."

While Detroit must decide if it will re-sign Smith, Lions president Tom Lewand said the tough decisions his organization faces this offseason are good problems to have.

"I'll take the problems of trying to keep a lot of good players instead of finding good players," Lewand said. "It's a definite better problem to have. You see teams around the league that face it all the time. You see times that can reload on the run. You see teams that can make tough decisions and let good players go.

"We've been in a situation where players we've let go end their careers and don't play again. That's not what we're looking for. We're looking for tough decisions we have to make. Hopefully, we can keep as many of those guys together and that nucleus together for as long as possible, but we know they're going to be some tough decisions we have to make along the way."