NASHVILLE – Tight end Jonnu Smith returned to Titans practice on Monday, and we all found out just how much he missed it.
Smith got down on one knee and said a long prayer immediately after practice. Earlier in the day he was taken off the team's Physically Unable to Perform list.
"It was like the first day of Pop Warner, like I was five years old again," Smith said of his return. "Coming out here running, sweating – all those feelings came back. I reminds me how much I still love the game. I am going on 24 years old and to have the same feeling as I did when I was 4-5 years old is kind of unbelievable."
It was Smith's first practice since suffering a season-ending knee injury in the team's December 6 contest against the Jaguars. Smith credited "hard work and dedication" for his earlier-than-expected return. Smith was wearing a brace on left knee on Monday, but said he plans to ditch it soon.
Smith caught 20 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns in 2018, including a 63-yard touchdown when he showed off his speed on a Monday Night Football grab and go in Houston. His return bolsters a tight end unit led by veteran Delanie Walker.
Titans coach Mike Vrabel let it be known how happy he was too see Smith back in uniform. Smith said he felt good on his first day back.
"Jonnu is one of my favorite players on this team," Vrabel said. "I don't have like 'favorites,' but he is one of my favorite players on this team. I just love him to death. I love the way he works, I love his attitude. So when he is ready to go in there we'll see what he can handle and try and get him going."
The Tennessee Titans practice on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019 at Saint Thomas Sports Park. (Photos: Donald Page)
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Rashaan Evans #54 of Tennessee Titans and Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Tight Ends Coach Todd Downing of the Tennessee Titans and Tight end Jonnu Smith #81 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Running back Derrick Henry #22 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Tight end Jonnu Smith #81 of Tennessee Titans and Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith of the Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Tennessee Titans helmet during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Wide receiver Darius Jennings #15 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Running back Jeremy McNichols #30 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Tennessee Titans helmet and football during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Daren Bates #53 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Running back Derrick Henry #22 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Quart'e Sapp #40 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Wide receiver A.J. Brown #11 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Running back Derrick Henry #22 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Quart'e Sapp #40 of Tennessee Titans and Director of Player Engagement Chic Ejiasi during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Tight Ends Coach Todd Downing of the Tennessee Titans and Tight end Jonnu Smith #81 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Quart'e Sapp #40 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Quart'e Sapp #40 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Guard Aaron Stinnie #61 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Wide receiver A.J. Brown #11 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Running back Derrick Henry #22 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Quart'e Sapp #40 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Wide receiver A.J. Brown #11 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Tight end Jonnu Smith #81 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Wide receiver Corey Davis #84 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith of the Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Ukeme Eligwe #52 to the Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Cornerback Malcolm Butler #21 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Line of scrimmage during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Quart'e Sapp #40 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Quart'e Sapp #40 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Daren Bates #53 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Running back Derrick Henry #22 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees of the Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Running back Derrick Henry #22 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Running back Derrick Henry #22 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Paul Wholford during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Cornerback Kenneth Durden #20 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Running back Derrick Henry #22 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Tight end Jonnu Smith #81 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Linebacker Quart'e Sapp #40 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Running back Derrick Henry #22 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Quarterback Ryan Tannehill #17 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 19, 2019 - Tight end Jonnu Smith #81 of Tennessee Titans during practice in the bubble at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
