Indianapolis Colts' 2024 draft pick continues to make plays in training camp

USA Today

a day ago

A Colts' 2024 early round draft pick continues to make plays in training camp and did so in the team's joint practice vs. the Ravens.
We are now past the point of saying that Indianapolis Colts' second-year wide receiver AD Mitchell has put together some nice practices. Given Mitchell's performance over the last week-plus, making plays in practice has now become the norm for him.
The dropped passes that plagued him during the first few training camp practices are now a distant memory.
The high-level play from Mitchell continued during the Colts' joint practice with Baltimore. As noted by the Indy Star's Nate Atkins in his practice takeaways article, Mitchell won both of his one-on-one drills, the first coming against Nate Wiggins and the second reps against Chidobe Awuzie.
During the team portion of the practice, Mitchell provided the Colts' quarterbacks with a consistent target both on short-area throws and on plays down the sidelines.
'It's great," Shane Steichen said of Mitchell's play, via Horseshoe Huddle. "You want to see that growth, like I've been saying. His playmaking ability and his route running ability is phenomenal. And to see the plays he's been making over the last few weeks is really good for us, really good for him. You want to see that jump from last year, and he continues to grow and make strides. We got to continue that consistency there.'
With Mitchell's combination of speed and route running, the ability to create separation has been evident since he arrived in Indianapolis. However, during his rookie season, Mitchell was far too inconsistent, working through drops and mistimed or off routes.
But in Year 2, after having a full season in Steichen's offense and a full offseason to work on his craft, Mitchell is playing with a newfound confidence, and with that, the results are following.
"Now we in Year 2 now, and I just feel more comfortable," Mitchell said after Saturday's practice via the Indy Star. Whether it's in the meeting rooms, walkthroughs. I'm not focused on what the play is, what do I have to do? I'm focused on how I'm doing it and why I'm doing it, and what I'm doing."
It's a crowded receiver room around Mitchell, with the Colts also having Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce. But Mitchell adds a different element to that room and is someone who can impact all levels of the field, which then further opens up the playbook for Steichen.
As Mitchell continues to make opportunities in practice, more opportunities in games will come with that.