MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings answered one of their many running back questions Wednesday when they re-signed unrestricted free agent Robert Smith to a one-year deal.

Smith was on a pace to rush for better than 1,500 yards last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury in an Oct. 28 game against Chicago. It marked the second straight year Smith had his season cut short by a knee injury.

Smith was leading the NFL in rushing at the time of the injury.

"We're pleased to have Robert signed before the draft," said Vikings vice president Jeff Diamond. "It was critical to our draft plans to have our top two running backs -- Robert and Leroy Hoard -- under contract."

Smith and Hoard were two of four free-agent running backs the Vikings needed to make decisions on this offseason. Earlier in the day, Scottie Graham left the Vikings to join the Cincinnati Bengals, while Amp Lee is still unsigned.

Smith, 25, was averaging 99 yards per game and coming off a career-high 133 yards rushing against Tampa Bay before suffering his season-ending knee injury against the Bears. He finished the year with 692 yards rushing on 162 carries. Smith also had a 102-yard rushing day against Carolina on Oct. 6 and a 113-yard rushing effort against Detroit to open the season on Sept. 1.

In 1995, Smith was fifth in the NFL in rushing with 537 yards after seven games when he suffered an ankle injury in an Oct. 22 game against Green Bay. He finished the year with 632 yards in nine games.

Smith, a first-round pick in 1993 out of Ohio State, has rushed for 1,829 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 53 passes for 290 yards in 41 career NFL games.

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