Mike Tomlin was smiling, the competitive juices were flowing, the pads were popping.

Must have been the return of backs on ’backers at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.

The tradition for annual first day of padded practices is among the camp must-sees. Tomlin’s voice booms as he calls on the combatants — linebackers vs. running backs (or tight ends) — to mimic pass-rushing and pass-protection.

Taking place in its customary Saint Vincent spot of the far right corner of the end zone as viewed from the bleachers at Chuck Noll Field, the first rep involved big names: new starting inside linebacker Myles Jack vs. Pro Bowl running back Najee Harris.

The 240-pound Harris was a frequent participant (he left practice later because of a foot injury), something that’s not always assured for an important starter (reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt did not take a rep, for example).

Harris at one point stood up starting inside ’backer Devin Bush, eliciting cheers from offensive teammates and an excitable celebration from Harris in which he held his hands together as if in prayer before extending his arms out to the side with palms raised. Harris also was among the most demonstrative in congratulating offensive teammates who “won” reps.

Harris himself mostly held his own against the faux blitzes by linebackers. But during one particular rep, Robert Spillane beat him. Defenders took great joy in this, likely because of how loud Harris was after his side won, and they whooped it up.

• Tomlin has plenty to say to individuals and to groups during backs on ’backers. At one point, he turned to the defense in an effort to spur some aggressiveness: “Hey, I want to see some of you defenders getting rid of blockers! Get them off you!” Tomlin also appears to take joy in calling for “rematches” after one player particularly dominates another or if two wage vigorous battle to a stalemate.

• The 265-pound Zach Gentry was a frequent combatant in the drill. Each time he stepped up, Tomlin would yell something about, “Let’s go, Big Blue!” — the name Tomlin prefers for the of Michigan graduate. Gentry lost a spirited rep to Delontae Scott, drawing a reaction from the gathered players. Tomlin yelled to Gentry and Scott, “Hey, they want a re-run. Let’s give them what they want!” The rematch was a clean win for Scott off a nice double move, pleasing the defense. Tomlin yelled over to tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts, “Fredo! Fredo, have you had enough?” Roberts snapped back, “No!” and slapped another tight end on the shoulder pads, sending him in.

• After one rep in which Buddy Johnson bull-rushed past running back Anthony McFarland, running backs coach Eddie Faulkner encouraged McFarland by telling him he liked his footing and that it was just his hands that were wrong. The two went at it again, and Johnson won even more cleanly this time.

• While most media eyes were on backs on ’backers, fans mostly were watching another high-profile drill of one-on-one wide receivers vs. defensive backs with throws from the quarterbacks. The sizable crowd at Chuck Noll Field repeatedly “ooo”-ed and “ahh”-ed.

• Sixth-round pick inside linebacker Mark Robinson had quite a day. A former FCS running back who walked on and ended up starting at linebacker after transferring to Ole Miss in 2021, Robinson has the look of a willing hitter/tackler who has good instincts to get to the ball.

• Demoted to the third string for Monday’s session, Mason Rudolph at one point had two balls batted down over a span of four throws — one each by Scott and defensive lineman Doug Costin.

• Diontae Johnson continued his “hold in” by still sitting out team drills. But Johnson was perhaps more active Monday than he’d been in any practice to this point in camp. During special-teams drills, he and a handful of other receivers, defensive backs and quarterbacks ran repeated drills catching passes in “game-like” situations such as in the corner of the end zone or along the sideline.

• The biggest hit of team drills might have been defensive back Tre Norwood meeting receiver Gunner Olszewski with a clean shoulder-to-shoulder hit as Olszewski caught a pass from Kenny Pickett in the middle of the field. Olszewski held on even as he slammed to the ground.

• Putting on the pads didn’t stop rookie receivers George Pickens and Calvin Austin III from continuing to impress, as they have throughout camp.

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