Tight end Jonnu Smith had a historic Sunday for the Miami Dolphins. His six catches for 101 yards and two scores was something unseen by a Dolphins tight end since the NFL and AFL joined forces to become one league.
He became the only Dolphins tight end since the 1970 merger to have 100 or more receiving yards and two touchdown catches in a game.
Smith spoke with South Florida reporters postgame and when asked if he ever had a game like this he was honest in saying: "Man, that was – it’s a lot more than just a game for me. I’m extremely blessed, man, and just proud of where God has placed me with this team."
Smith, signed by the Dolphins this past off season, has been heating up lately for Miami. Although starting the season a bit slow, Smith has come alive and has been utilized more often recently.
In Miami's opening four weeks, Smith was targeted just 13 times for nine catches and 78 yards, no scores. Since then, he has been targeted 39 times for 30 catches, 370 yards and three touchdowns.
"Everything was rocky in the beginning – forget about the stat line, what we just experienced in the locker room is something that we worked all year for," he told media.
Smith's performance started and capped the Dolphins afternoon, as his opening drive score set the tone, which came on a fourth and goal from the one yard line. He then iced the game with a 57-yard catch and run touchdown on third down which put the game away for good.
Smith, a yards after catch specialist, talked about his long scoring play saying: "The Red Seas parted. It’s Sunday, I’m coming with my biblical terms today." In more football speak he preached: "It seems like if it was a busted coverage, and Tua, me and him, we just connected, locked eyes and just made the rest happen."
The Dolphins have been needing a tight end to make things happen, since in 2023 they didn't have a touchdown from the position all season. Smith is now one of two tight ends this 2024 NFL season to total 100 or more receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in a game. Ironically, he joins Cincinnati's Mike Gesicki, the former Dolphins tight end who had a 100-yard, two touchdown performance Week 9, also versus the Raiders.
Following Sunday's stats against Las Vegas, Smith is now the Dolphins third leading pass catcher with his 39 receptions, second in receiving yards with 448, and tied for first in touchdowns with Tyreek Hill and De'Von Achane with three.
