The wait for Pittsburgh Steelers football is officially over.
Mike Tomlin and company took the field Thursday at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, kicking off what fans hope will be a season of redemption and resurgence. The energy was electric, with black and gold faithful lining the fields to catch a glimpse of their new-look team.
But one key figure was notably absent from the action: newly acquired tight end Jonnu Smith.
Smith, a Pro Bowl-caliber talent coming off a career-best season with the Miami Dolphins, was present — just not participating. Initially in practice gear, Smith stood with the rest of the active players before quietly swapping his jersey for more casual apparel and stepping aside.
While he remained engaged and was seen offering encouragement and coaching from the sidelines, his lack of involvement was hard to ignore.
This isn’t necessarily something to ring alarm bells over.
Training camp is long, and player workloads are carefully managed, especially for veterans. But as someone who’s been eagerly anticipating Smith’s impact on this offense, it was a little disappointing not to see him running routes or catching passes.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need Jonnu Smith on the field during training camp
With so much buzz surrounding his arrival — especially after a standout 2024 season that saw him rack up 88 receptions, 884 yards, and eight touchdowns — the hope was to see him start building chemistry with Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense right away.
Thursday’s practice felt more like a football festival. Big names like Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Rodgers, and DK Metcalf all made their training camp debuts, drawing cheers from across the field. In a setting so full of excitement and expectation, Smith’s absence from on-field drills was just a touch deflating.
That said, there’s no panic here. Mike Tomlin has long taken a measured approach with his players, especially early in camp. When asked about injuries, he said there were none "worth mentioning today" and maybe some "heat-related issues."
Smith is no stranger to the grind and is considered day to day.
There’s every reason to believe that when it matters most, Smith will be out there making plays and becoming a reliable target in a Steelers offense hungry for production at tight end.
For now, we wait.
Hopefully, when Jonnu Smith finally hits the field in black and gold, we’ll all remember why Pittsburgh went out and got him in the first place.
