Jonnu Smith Injury Update
Yes, Jonnu Smith is finally back on the practice field. After sitting out the entire preseason with what Mike Tomlin (and Smith himself) called nothing more than knee soreness, the veteran tight end suited up for Pittsburgh’s weekend session.
@bybrendanhowe reported on X that Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith was back on the practice field this morning. Following the session, Smith emphasized that "time is of the essence" as he looks to make an impact moving forward.
On paper, “soreness” doesn’t sound like much, but anytime you hear “30-year-old tight end” and “knee,” it’s enough to make fans hold their breath.
Smith himself? Completely unfazed. He laughed it off, basically saying, “If that’s what you wanna call it — soreness. We play football.” That’s a very Jonnu thing to say.
Still, his absence lingered in the back of people’s minds, especially because this offense is entering the season with sky-high expectations and several aging stars, Aaron Rodgers included.
The encouraging part: he didn’t look tentative. He was running crisp routes, moving with confidence, and shaking off that rust like a guy who knows time is short to establish rhythm with his new quarterback.
And this isn’t just any quarterback — it’s Aaron Rodgers, in black and gold, with the city buzzing to see if this experiment works.
Jonnu Smith Stats & Career Snapshot
Stat lines don’t always tell the story, but Smith’s most recent season was the kind of year where the numbers jump off the page:
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2024 (with Miami): 88 catches, 884 yards, 8 touchdowns.
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Each of those? Franchise records for a Dolphins tight end.
That’s not “solid role player” territory — that’s borderline Pro Bowl production. And it came in an offense that, frankly, had a ton of mouths to feed.
Miami used him as a move-te tight end, sliding around the formation, finding mismatches, and racking up YAC the way Arthur Smith (then his head coach in Tennessee, now his OC again in Pittsburgh) always envisioned.
The Steelers are counting on that exact skill set. Why? Because outside of DK Metcalf, the wide receiver room is… let’s say a little thin. This isn’t a group stacked six-deep like some other AFC teams.
So, naturally, the plan is to run big — really big. Multiple-tight end looks featuring Smith, Pat Freiermuth, and Darnell Washington. Think bruising packages that can morph into mismatches in the passing game. It’s not flashy, but it’s the kind of football Pittsburgh fans secretly love.
The Rodgers–Smith Connection
Rodgers hasn’t built that chemistry yet with Smith — not surprising since Smith was sidelined most of camp. But Rodgers thrives with reliable tight ends (see: Robert Tonyan’s heyday in Green Bay).
And Rodgers, at 41, isn’t the same guy who wants to dance around the pocket waiting for someone to break free. He wants big targets who are exactly where they’re supposed to be, and Jonnu fits that bill.
Smith even admitted, “Time is of the essence.” That’s an athlete acknowledging the obvious — he’s not a rookie anymore. Rodgers isn’t either. This is a short window for both of them to chase something meaningful, and that creates urgency in every rep.
Why His Health Matters So Much
Smith’s return isn’t just about having another veteran body on the field. It’s about options. Last year, Pittsburgh leaned on an offense that sometimes looked predictable.
This year, the presence of multiple tight ends opens up creative flexibility for Arthur Smith. Imagine a set with Smith and Freiermuth tightening the defense, only for Rodgers to slip Metcalf loose downfield. These possibilities don’t exist if Jonnu isn’t healthy.
And frankly, at this stage of his career, “minor soreness” that doesn’t turn into something bigger is a win. Fans may roll their eyes at stars sitting out preseason, but avoiding wear-and-tear is half the battle. Better to sit in August than limp in December.
