FanHouse LJ Smith

When L.J. Smith signed a one-year deal with Baltimore in the offseason, he did so determined to prove that the "injury-prone" label affixed to him in Philadelphia was a misnomer.

Keep trying, L.J.

Smith, who missed six games with a sports hernia in 2007 and four games plus a postseason contest with injuries in 2008, has barely been able to stay on the field during Baltimore's training camp. What's wrong? Try everything -- the latest being a hamstring pull suffered on Monday night against the Jets. But as head coach John Harbaugh explains it, this is hardly a one-time problem.

"He had the hip flexor, the groin, the sports hernia, the upper hamstring," Harbaugh said after practice Wednesday. "It's like these things, you compensate and they tie into one another"

L.J. Smith is having a rough season. Bad timing, too, since he's in the last year of his rookie deal and it doesn't look like the Eagles have any plans on bringing him back.

This raises a bunch of questions -- where will Smith end up? Who will Philly target to replace him? Will the tight end position be changing if Andy Reid calls it quits? And so and and so forth.

Despite Smith not doing much in 2007 (he's been battling injuries), the former second-round pick has amassed 145 catches for 1,670 yards and 13 touchdowns since 2004, which bests the Colts' Dallas Clark by 53 receptions and 192 yards (Clark also had 13 scores). Not too shabby.

Smith won't have any problem finding work, but who will assume the starting role in Philly when he's gone?

It just seems like the Packers are a one-dimensional offense: pass first, run only when necessary. In fact, according to Football Outsiders, Green Bay ranks fourth in passing and 11th in rushing. Not too shabby for a team seen strictly as relying on Brett Favre's arm.

I mention this not to pimp the Packers' underrated rushing game, but to point out that Favre could be getting more offensive weapons of the non-running back variety for 2008 (because you know he's coming back). The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Greg Bedard has this nugget:

With Bubba Franks likely on his way out if he doesn't take a pay cut, the Packers could enter the off-season with Donald Lee as the only experienced tight end on the roster.

A hot name on the free-agent market likely will be L.J. Smith, the former Rutgers standout. Playing under Andy Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles, Smith is already well versed in the West Coast offense.

Smith is in the last year of his rookie contract, and it's not clear the Eagles will re-sign him. The former second-round pick out of Rutgers had his two best seasons in '05 and '06, hauling in 111 passes and eight touchdowns. Smith has battled injuries, but when healthy, creates matchup problems for linebackers and safeties.

With Greg Jennings emerging as a legit playmaker, having two solid pass-catching tight ends only makes Favre more dangerous.