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New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
AD Mitchell practice diary: A minute-by-minute look at the WR dominating Colts camp
WESTFIELD, Ind. — The talent is tantalizing. When AD Mitchell is performing at his peak, there are moments when the young Indianapolis Colts wide receiver looks like he already is a perennial Pro Bowler. Line him up against anyone and, before long, he'll likely make them look silly with his size, speed and separation skills. Advertisement The question Mitchell is facing, however, is a simple one: Will it translate to game days? For the second straight year, the 2024 second-round pick has teased the Colts and their fans during training camp by displaying all of the traits of a No. 1 receiver. His potential screams that he could become a franchise cornerstone, but for now, Indianapolis would likely settle for him simply being a productive player. Last season, Mitchell's playing time fluctuated during a tumultuous rookie campaign. He finished with just 23 receptions (on 55 targets) for 312 yards and zero TDs. 'I feel like I have a lot of ability, so I try to put it on full display every day, every snap,' Mitchell said after a recent practice. 'Once it comes together, you kind of just hope, day by day, that you're able to look back on the day and say, 'Did I do everything I could have done today? Was I at my best?' Everything else kind of works from there. … We're in Year 2 now, and I just feel more comfortable.' As the Colts' season opener against the Miami Dolphins creeps closer, so does Mitchell's chance to prove that this time around, his preseason production will translate. After a shaky start to training camp that included a few inexcusable drops, Mitchell has rebounded with several highlight-reel plays amid a steady incline. Monday's practice, which began at 4 p.m. ET, was another step in the right direction as Colts coach Shane Steichen placed a heavy emphasis on 11-on-11 work. The Athletic watched Mitchell's every move, minute by minute. Here's what it looked like as Mitchell once again put on a show. 3:49 p.m.: Mitchell's head starts bobbing as his ears gravitate toward the music being blasted over the speakers at Grand Park in Westfield. The song, 'him all along,' by rapper Gunna, is being played, and Mitchell knows every word. Pretty soon, he's no longer rapping to himself. He's dancing and hyping up his teammates, too, as they finish up stretching. Advertisement 'He always kind of keeps that same high energy, whether he's on the field or off the field,' Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said of Mitchell. 'He's always kind of like that, but he has the edge to him, too, like 24/7.' 4:07 p.m.: The Colts have transitioned to individual drills, and Mitchell and the receivers are running routes on air. Mitchell easily reels in a deep ball and then playfully daps up Steichen as if to say, 'There's more where that came from, coach.' Later in practice, Mitchell would prove he wasn't lying. 4:10 p.m.: Mitchell hauls in another long pass during individual drills, then starts dancing to R&B singer Chris Brown's 'Run It,' before jogging back to join the rest of his teammates. 4:13 p.m.: Colts wide receivers coach and franchise legend Reggie Wayne begins taking a closer look at his receivers, positioning himself halfway down the field, right where they're supposed to make a break on their fade routes. Mitchell appears to run a flawless fade route, but Wayne isn't satisfied. He rarely is. The loud music makes it tough to hear what Wayne is specifically telling Mitchell, but based on the hand gestures and foot motions, Wayne thought Mitchell's route was good but not perfect, hence the critique. 'He definitely loves the tough love, but he's very encouraging, I will say that,' Mitchell said of Wayne. 'He definitely helped me a lot last year, and I kind of feel like he's been there every step of the way. From when I first got here to where I am now in Year 2, second training camp, I feel like he's been the biggest voice in my ear in this building.' 4:19 p.m.: The Colts are now in a full 11-on-11 period, and free safety Cam Bynum breaks up a pass from quarterback Daniel Jones that was intended for Mitchell. The veteran defensive back lets the young receiver hear about it. Daniel Jones Colts 4:20 p.m.: Mitchell takes his frustration from the previous play out on cornerback Sam Womack. Matched up on the outside, Mitchell beat Womack on a comeback route, which would've gone for about a 7-yard gain on its own. However, Mitchell displays his agility by juking Womack shortly after making the catch and quickly turning upfield for another 10 yards before being pushed out of bounds. Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo isn't pleased with Womack's coverage and voices it. Meanwhile, on the other sideline, Wayne subtly nods his head in approval. Advertisement 4:25 p.m.: The Colts are now in a special teams period. As the players work on their punt coverage, Mitchell takes a knee alongside Wayne, whose coaching seemingly never stops. Wayne reviews Mitchell's last few routes, signaling with his hands and moving his feet to show Mitchell what he did right and wrong. Soon, Pittman joins them, and Mitchell begins asking him questions, too, presumably about how to get open. 'He's just like a sponge,' Pittman said of Mitchell. 'He's trying to get every single edge he can get. And he's out there doing his thing.' A couple of dimes. — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 11, 2025 4:28 p.m.: The special teams drills are still going, but Mitchell remains curious. So, the receiver makes his way down the sideline toward the QBs. Jones, who's currently battling Anthony Richardson for the QB1 title, is standing off to the side. Mitchell joins him and begins rattling off questions about the 11-on-11 session they just completed. 'I feel like the main thing was probably building chemistry with the quarterbacks,' Mitchell said, explaining what he needed to improve ahead of his second season. 'I feel like I run routes a little differently. Changing tempos, changing speeds a lot, so getting right with the quarterbacks was probably the biggest thing.' 4:30 p.m.: The dancing is back as Mitchell hears another Gunna song. This time it's 'one of wun,' and Mitchell recites the lyrics seemingly just as easily as he recites his QB's play calls. 4:35 p.m.: The 11-on-11 resumes, and Mitchell frees himself on a short out route. Jones throws a perfect pass to him in stride, but Mitchell drops it. That hasn't happened recently in camp, and Mitchell slaps his helmet in frustration. 4:36 p.m.: On the very next play, Mitchell beats the Colts' No. 1 cornerback, Charvarius Ward, on a go route. Jones underthrows the ball, but Mitchell slows up to make a twisting, bobbling catch for a 30-yard gain. The fans at Grand Park roar after witnessing Mitchell's acrobatics. He follows that up by beating Ward again on a comeback route to notch back-to-back first downs. Advertisement 'I knew if someone leaves me one-on-one on an island, somebody's gonna regret it,' Mitchell said earlier in camp. 'It ain't gonna be me.' 4:48 p.m.: Jonathan Taylor breaks free for a long TD run in 11-on-11. Mitchell chases the star running back downfield while celebrating as if he's the one who scored. 4:50 p.m.: Richardson takes over at QB in 11-on-11. After breaking the huddle, Mitchell lines up inside and blocks cornerback Johnathan Edwards to help spring tight end Tyler Warren for a screen pass; Warren turns upfield for a first down. 4:56 p.m.: Mitchell burns Edwards at the line of scrimmage, stops on a dime and drives back toward the ball for an easy completion from Richardson. Edwards never had a chance thanks to Mitchell's elite separation skills. 'I tell people all the time, 'He can't be guarded 1-on-1,'' wide receiver Josh Downs said. 'He's a guy you line up on the edge and go one-on-one and tell him to get open.' 5:02 p.m.: The second unit, this time with Jones at the helm, takes the field. Mitchell remains on the sideline with the rest of the starters. He takes a knee next to Alec Pierce, who's not practicing due to a groin injury, and begins peppering him with questions about route running and what he should've done in man coverage versus zone looks. 5:10 p.m.: The Colts transition to special teams drills again, this time with presumed starter Spencer Shrader kicking and nailing a few field goal attempts. Mitchell, meanwhile, prowls the sidelines, seeking answers to his seemingly never-ending questions. He cozies up to QBs coach Cam Turner to pick his brain before chatting with offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. 'He's always sort of talking about how to get open, how to run a route versus certain leverage or versus certain coverage,' Cooter said. 'He's pretty good for a young guy, especially about coming back and asking the quarterbacks, 'Hey, what did you think about that? I might have done something that maybe the rules say I shouldn't have released that way, but I won on it. Is the quarterback OK with it?' That's part of a young receiver becoming a veteran receiver is learning what the quarterbacks like, so when you do get open, that ball is where you want it.' Advertisement 5:17 p.m.: The 11-on-11 sessions resume, and Mitchell comes up empty in this team period. On the final rep, Ward beats Mitchell inside and bats down a pass from Richardson. The veteran cornerback then lets Mitchell hear about it before they return to their respective groups. 5:23 p.m.: As Jason Bean steps in at QB for a developmental period, Mitchell makes his way over to Richardson on the sideline. The two go over their last team session, presumably to discuss why they weren't able to connect. 5:31 p.m.: In the Colts' final team period, Mitchell is held without a catch again. However, this drive is a lot more fruitful thanks to Richardson's dual-threat skills. Richardson connects with Warren for a long reception down the field that puts the Colts in the red zone. On the next play, Richardson plunges in for a short running TD. The QB caps off the drive with a pass to Downs, who makes a diving catch for the two-point conversion. Mitchell runs over to dap up Richardson, then finds Downs for a celebratory handshake. 5:34 p.m.: The Colts huddle up to end practice while the players' families and friends start to make their way to the field. Before escaping the sun, which contributed to a very hot practice, Mitchell once again seeks guidance from Wayne, peppering him with questions as they walk back to the team facility. 'The arrow's pointing up,' Wayne said of Mitchell after a recent practice. 'I think it's hitting right on time. We just gotta make sure we can stay consistent.' Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
07-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ten Colts with most to gain this preseason: Can Anthony Richardson prove he should be QB1?
A lot of us are skeptics and haters this time of year. Each time a relatively unaccomplished player delivers a standout performance in training camp, like Indianapolis Colts receiver AD Mitchell's torching of the Baltimore Ravens secondary in a joint practice Tuesday, the thought that nags us in the back of our minds is: 'But can he do it in a real game?' Advertisement Well, the real games are finally here. Kind of. The Colts will play Thursday night at Baltimore in their preseason opener, and while both teams will likely keep their offensive and defensive schemes pretty vanilla, the live tackling element still makes this matchup a very important inflection point for several Colts players who are out to prove themselves. Here are 10 players to keep a close eye on throughout the Colts' three preseason games against the Ravens, Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals. As of late, Richardson has picked up his play in training camp by connecting on the short and intermediate throws that have given him fits throughout the first two years of his career. Last year, Richardson's completion percentage cratered to a league-worst 47.7 percent, which is obviously not sustainable to maintain his status as a starting NFL QB. The 23-year-old will start Thursday night against the Ravens, and if he can show marked improvement in his accuracy, it would bode well for his chances to retain his title as QB1 over new teammate Daniel Jones, whom he's currently battling with for the spot. Jones, 28, came to Indianapolis seeking redemption after his career flamed out with the New York Giants. So far in training camp, he's played pretty efficiently but also conservatively, meaning he's rarely pushed the ball downfield (a knock on him from his days with the New York Giants). With that in mind, if Jones wants to supplant Richardson as the starter, he may have to be more aggressive in these preseason games because his current approach hasn't helped him gain any separation from Richardson in their ongoing position battle. Jones will play about half a quarter in the Colts' preseason opener, and then he'll start the Colts' second preseason game against the Packers. When Jones steps in as QB1 versus Green Bay, it would behoove him to take some shots. Advertisement Bortolini is listed as the Colts' starting center on their unofficial depth chart for Thursday's preseason opener. The 23-year-old has been rotating first-team reps with veteran Danny Pinter as the Colts try to find their replacement for Ryan Kelly, who spent the last nine years as the Colts' starting center before joining the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. Ideally, the Colts would likely want Bortolini, a fourth-round pick in 2024, to become their next franchise center because of his age and where he was drafted. Pinter, an Indiana native and Ball State alum, inked a one-year deal to return to the Colts in free agency. The 2020 fifth-round pick started nine games in his four NFL seasons (he missed 2023 with a broken ankle) versus five for Bortolini. Pinter has proven himself to be a reliable backup throughout his career, but if he hopes to solidify himself as a full-time starter and earn a starter-level contract in free agency next offseason, a strong showing this preseason would go a long way in helping him accomplish those things. When the Colts drafted Walley in the third round this year, it seemed like a reach considering The Athletic's NFL draft guru Dane Brugler projected Walley as a sixth-round pick. Walley, however, has quickly lived up to where he was selected by shining in training camp, and he's put himself in contention to start at cornerback alongside Kenny Moore II and Charvarius Ward. The 22 year-old continued his strong performance with a pass breakup on Lamar Jackson in Tuesday's joint practice, but he left the action early after sustaining a knee injury. Walley's status moving forward is unclear. Nobody can blame Jones if he feels a bit slighted by the Colts' offseason moves at cornerback. The 2023 seventh-round pick clawed his way up the depth chart to start all 17 games last year and held his own. However, despite proving that he can be a starting-caliber cornerback, Indianapolis clearly sought an upgrade, as they brought in Ward and Walley. Jones was having another strong camp before sustaining a hamstring injury July 29. He's been sidelined ever since, but when he returns, it'll be interesting to see if he can regain any ground in a crowded cornerback room. Brents simply can't stay healthy. The 2023 second-round pick has only played in 11 games through his first two seasons due to a variety of injuries, and he's sidelined again with a hamstring injury. Colts coach Shane Steichen said he doesn't think Brents' hamstring injury is as severe as Jones'. If that is the case, and Brents can return before Jones (and possibly Walley), his performance in the preseason could make the Colts' coaching staff reconsider their pecking order in the cornerback room. Advertisement Mitchell struggled early in training camp, evidenced by a handful of drops during team drills. The second-year receiver joked that something was 'in the air,' and whatever it was must have cleared up because over the last week-plus, Mitchell has dominated training camp. The next step for Mitchell is to show his new form in real games, which was rarely the case last year during an underwhelming rookie season. He totaled just 23 catches for 312 yards and zero TDs. Assuming the Colts limit their top receivers (Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and Josh Downs) throughout the preseason, Mitchell should get plenty of opportunities to keep building on what the Colts hope can be a breakout season. AD's day. 👀 — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 6, 2025 The Colts didn't make any significant upgrades at linebacker this offseason and, to some degree, banked on Carlies taking a big step forward as a full-time starter this year. However, the second-year pro, who missed seven games last year due to injury, has been banged up again throughout training camp and is currently sidelined with an undisclosed injury. When Carlies has been available, he's split reps between the first and second units. In his absence lately, Cameron McGrone has started over him at weakside linebacker. If Carlies plans to cement himself as a starter, health will obviously be a big factor. If he can't stay on the field, McGrone, a 2021 fifth-round pick, could be on the fast track to playing a major role within new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's scheme. Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason said Shrader and undrafted free agent Maddux Trujillo would participate in an 'open' kicking competition for the starting job. After a few weeks of camp, that competition appears to be over. Shrader has been much more accurate than Trujillo in training camp. However, that doesn't mean Shrader can be fully trusted. The second-year pro only attempted five field goals last year, making all five, but he never attempted a field goal of at least 50 yards. On Tuesday, Shrader missed a long field goal attempt wide left in the Colts' final two-minute drill in a joint practice with the Ravens. Indy's three preseason games should give Shrader a chance to bounce back and show that he's ready for the bright lights. If not, the Colts could be on the hunt for a new kicker before Week 1. (Photos of Richardson and Brents: Justin Casterline / Getty Images and Mykal McEldowney / USA Today Network via Imagn Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Takeaways from Colts v. Ravens joint practice: QBs are efficient; big day for AD Mitchell
Prior to the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens facing off on Thursday in the preseason opener, the two participated in a joint scrimmage on Tuesday. These joint practices can be quite valuable, mainly because they allow the starters from both teams to compete in a game-like but more controlled environment than a preseason game, where many won't play. As always, there is plenty that takes place in these practices, but here are the three big things you need to know. Efficient days for Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones As Nate Atkins of the Indy Star put it, both Richardson and Jones were "sharp" on Tuesday. By Atkins' count, Richardson would finish the practice 10-for-13 passing while Jones was 14-of-17. While what took place in 2024 has no bearing on what happens in 2025, this was a Ravens defense last season that ranked eighth in points per game and sixth in yards per play. Following the practice, Shane Steichen announced that Richardson would start against Baltimore on Thursday. He will play about a quarter and a half, and then Jones will finish out the second quarter. Next week against Green Bay, the roles will flip. Another big day for AD Mitchell After a rocky start to training camp, which included several drops over the first few practices, Mitchell hasn't only found that elusive consistency, but he's been playing at a very high level as well. In Amanda Foster's post-training camp notebook, she noted that Mitchell had multiple receptions against the Baltimore defense, including a contested downfield throw from Richardson. With Mitchell's combination of athleticism and route running, he's always been an extremely difficult matchup and excellent at creating separation. However, as a rookie, dropped passes and mistimed or wrong routes led to inconsistent play. Now with a full offseason under his belt, Mitchell is playing confidently, and the big plays are coming his way. "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." Another injury at cornerback The Colts are already short-handed at cornerback with Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents working through hamstring injuries that have held each of them out of recent practices. Unfortunately, Justin Walley would sustain a knee injury in Tuesday's joint practice. He was sidelined for the second half of the practice with ice on his knee. As of now, no further updates have been provided. With the starting cornerback job opposite of Charvarius Ward up for grabs, Walley had positioned himself well to earn those snaps with his play during offseason programs and into training camp. To boost their cornerback depth, the Colts recently signed Tre Herndon, Duke Shelley, and Chris Lammons, while also releasing Corey Ballentine. Other quick notes - According to Jake Arthur of Horseshoe Huddle, the Colts' defensive line had a "solid" day during the 11-on-11 periods. - Rookie safety Hunte Wohler also came away with two interceptions and had "multiple pass breakups" in one-on-ones, wrote Arthur. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts training camp: 3 Takeaways from joint practice vs. Ravens
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jim Bob Cooter weighs in on progress this offseason from Indianapolis Colts WR AD Mitchell
By all accounts, Indianapolis Colts' second-year wide receiver AD Mitchell has had a very strong showing throughout the team's offseason programs. "AD's had an exciting start to the offseason," said offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. "He's really been playing good football out there. Getting open, making catches." Advertisement Even through the ups and downs that Mitchell experienced as a rookie, what also stood out was his ability to get open and create separation, particularly against man coverage. With Mitchell's combination of speed and route-running abilities, he can be a very difficult matchup. However, overshadowing that playmaking potential in Year 1 were the miscues. Dropped passes, wrong or mistimed routes, and not being on the same page with the quarterback were all too prevalent. This resulted in Mitchell catching just 45% of his 51 targets and a lack of playing time and opportunities as well. There were some weeks where, by snap count, he was the fifth wideout on the Colts' depth chart. So the big thing for Mitchell as he enters Year 2 is finding that consistency. Advertisement "It's a consistency thing," Cooter added. "Like Shane's talked about with our offense, with our team, with a lot of our guys. Attacking each day with consistency, going out there if you're AD Mitchell and you have some really good ability to go get open and make great catches, well, that's going to be the expectation, day in and day out." Year 2 is often when we see NFL players make the biggest developmental jump. For one, there is the comfort and confidence that comes with having an NFL season under their belt, but they also have a full offseason to work on their craft, rather than focusing on the pre-draft process. Even in a crowded Colts' receiver room that also includes Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, if Mitchell can take a step forward this season and find that consistency, more opportunities will come--in snaps, targets, and in the type of routes he's asked to run--because his skill set, and how he can stress various levels of the field, can add another element to this Colts' passing game. "He's done a really nice job," Cooter added. "He's had a great attitude attacking this spring. He's had some opportunities in practice, and he's made the most of those things, and those will keep coming." This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts WR AD Mitchell with 'exciting start' to offseason programs
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indianapolis Colts' OTAs: The big question at wide receiver
The Indianapolis Colts will begin Phase III of the offseason programs on May 28th, which means the start of voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Rather than only doing individual drills as the Colts have been doing, they will now be permitted to do 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 team drills, although no live contact is allowed. Advertisement So with this important part of the offseason schedule about to begin, I wanted to highlight one big question facing each position group. Up next are the wide receivers. Below you can find our previous position previews. Indianapolis Colts big question at wide receiver: Can AD Mitchell make a big jump in Year 2? After the Indianapolis Colts' 2024 season ended, GM Chris Ballard noted that AD Mitchell had some "really strong moments" during his rookie season, but ultimately, more consistency was needed moving forward. Mitchell would finish his rookie season catching just 23-of-51 targets (45.1%) at 13.6 yards per catch with no touchdowns. At times, he and the quarterback weren't on the same page. There were also dropped passes and the timing of routes were off. Advertisement However, we also saw flashes of the big-play potential that he brings, along with Mitchell's ability to create separation, specifically against man coverage. With his combination of speed and nuanced route-running abilities, Mitchell has the potential to win at all levels of the field and make an impact in a variety of ways. But the majority of his targets last season came on downfield throws. In order to get more of those opportunities in other parts of the field, refinement and consistency are needed. The challenge for Mitchell is that the Colts aren't lacking options in the passing game. He's currently the fourth option on the receiver depth chart and likely the fifth option overall with Tyler Warren now in the mix. Earning more of those pass-catching opportunities this season and having the chance to impact the game in different ways starts with the consistency he shows as a route runner and pass-catcher during OTAs, training camp, and the preseason. Advertisement "That he's exactly who we drafted," said Reggie Wayne about Mitchell's ability to create separation. "A guy that can constantly get open. A guy that's a threat and is special when it's man-to-man. The next step is finishing catches. Making sure you're on the same page as the quarterback. I think we spread it pretty evenly. Everybody contributes a certain way, but different from everyone else." This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts' OTAs: More consistency needed from WR AD Mitchell
