STEPHEN A. Smith made a return to First Take this week after the show’s broadcasting change.
Smith, 57, was absent in the latter part of last week after the show as bumped.
Stephen A. Smith appeared on Monday’s episode of First Take[/caption]
Smith and Molly Qerim have both enjoyed some time off this summer[/caption]
The ESPN personality enjoyed a summer break earlier this month after a grueling NBA season.
He contributed to the network’s basketball coverage with the NBA Finals going all the way to Game 7.
Smith returned to the show last week along with host Molly Qerim.
But First Take was bumped to ESPN2 on Thursday and Friday.
And the 57-year-old was not present when it was on the secondary channel.
ESPN instead showed little league softball live at 10 am ET.
And that meant studio shows such as First Take were moved to the secondary channel.
But Smith began the week back in his usual spot.
ESPN is ramping up coverage ahead of NFL season with training camps now underway.
Shannon Sharpe is yet to make a comeback after stepping aside this year.
Sharpe has been away from ESPN since April after being accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit.
He has denied the allegations made against him.
As part of Monday’s show, Smith picked his top five players in the NFL right now.
Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher TJ Watt was named the fifth best.
And Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett came in fourth spot.
The top three in Smith’s list were all quarterbacks.
Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen was named No. 3 by the ESPN star.
Baltimore Ravens signal caller Lamar Jackson was second overall.
And Kansas City Chiefs leader Patrick Mahomes was named as Smith’s best player in the NFL right now.
“We know he’s a big timer, he’s a gamer,” Smith said of Mahomes.
“We know he wins championships, we know he’s the face of the NFL right now.”
