TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Marvin Harrison's knees are healthy enough to play football again.
Getting back in sync with the Indianapolis Colts' high-scoring offense might take a little more patience.
The eight-time Pro Bowler seemed to enjoy himself Friday, defying the doctors' early prognosis by returning from offseason knee surgery for Indy's first training camp practice.
"It was good to see him smiling and running easy," coach Tony Dungy said. "For me, I try to read his face. When he's smiling, things are pretty much normal."
Harrison wasn't the only one smiling Friday.
As he trotted onto the field in his familiar No. 88 jersey, nearly 1,000 fans chanted his name. They cheered virtually every time he got his hands on the ball -- even when he was catching passes from the equipment staff.
It was a welcome respite for a Colts team that is already banged up.
Six players, five of them starters, were placed on the physically unable to perform list before practice opened. The most notable names: two-time league MVP Peyton Manning, 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders and former league sacks champion Dwight Freeney.
As recently as a June minicamp, Dungy said Harrison would likely join his high-profile teammates on the PUP list, meaning the Colts would have started practice without their career leaders in passing, receiving and sacks.
Earlier this week, though, Dungy said the medical opinion had changed and Harrison might be available opening day. On Friday morning, Harrison made it reality.
The usually quiet Harrison declined to take questions after the workout but the Colts liked what they saw from their 35-year-old teammate.
"I thought he looked good," tight end Dallas Clark said. "He's like anyone who hasn't been on the field for a while. I wish it was like riding a bike, but the things we do, the footwork and stuff, that's not natural and that's why you practice. He'll come around like everyone else here."
An aspect of the workout that Dungy described as "less sharp" was Indy's adjustment to its missing stars.
1stRoundRB 