What to know about Jonnu Smith and how he can help the Packers

The Green Bay Packers have reportedly signed tight end Jonnu Smith, fortifying one of their shallower position groups, particularly with Luke Musgrave out with a neck injury.

Tucker Kraft, who's recovering from a torn ACL sustained in November, has returned to practice but might be on limited snaps to start the season. The Packers also have returning tight ends Josh Whyle and Drake Dabney, with 2025 practice-squad player Messiah Swinson considered a roster possibility, too.

Smith, a nine-year NFL veteran, was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2024 with Miami and will be playing with his fifth franchise in five years when he suits up for Green Bay.

Here's what to know about him:

How old is Jonnu Smith?

He's 31 years old. That makes him a couple months younger than the third-oldest player on Green Bay's roster (Matt Orzech), with only backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor (37) and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave (33) older.

Where did Jonnu Smith come from?

The Tennessee Titans selected Smith in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Florida International. After four years with the Titans and two with the New England Patriots, he played subsequent seasons with Atlanta, Miami and Pittsburgh.

His time with the Titans included the 2018 season, when Packers coach Matt LaFleur was their offensive coordinator.

Pittsburgh released Smith in March. The Steelers acquired him and cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a big trade last summer that sent safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins.

He was born in Philadelphia but played high-school football in Florida.

How big is Jonnu Smith?

He's 6-foot-3, 248 pounds.

What are Jonnu Smith's stats?

In 2025, he played in 17 games for the Steelers (starting seven) and caught 38 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. That was a big decline from his Pro Bowl season with the Dolphins in 2024, when he caught 88 passes for 884 yards and eight scores. His season included a particularly productive game against Green Bay on Thanksgiving when he caught 10 of 11 targets for 113 yards, though the Packers still won easily.

Smith's 2025 season represented a career low in yards per catch and average depth of target, which measures how far downfield a receiver is targeted.

Smith has caught 345 passes in his career, with 30 touchdowns. He's also appeared in eight playoff games. He caught three passes for 39 yards in the 2019 AFC Championship Game, a Titans loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

One stat that's encouraging: Availability. He has played in 17 games each of the past three seasons and has never had a season of fewer than 13 games.

Is Jonnu Smith a good blocker?

Blocking hasn't been a strength for Smith, at least if you consult past stories written about his blocking.

Pro Football Focus, for what it's worth, has graded him as a poor run blocker (with scores in the 40s on a 1-100 scale) the past five years. In pass blocking, the site graded him in the upper 60s and 70s from 2022 through 2024, but he dipped below 55 last year.

Wanna see him line up at running back and score a touchdown with the Steelers?

Here you go. He took a pitch from Aaron Rodgers and found the house.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Jonnu Smith and how he can help the Packers