WESTFIELD, Ind. — The confidence gushes from AD Mitchell, even after a rookie season that by any standard was underwhelming.
As the Indianapolis Colts’ 2024 second-round draft pick decompressed during the first few weeks of the offseason and spent quality time with his family, most notably young daughter Icylinn, the same thought bounced around Mitchell’s head.
I belong in the NFL.
“I knew if somebody leave me one-on-one on an island, somebody gonna regret it,’’ Mitchell said Saturday at Grand Park.
He flashed a wry smile.
“And it ain’t gonna be me.’’
This is from a wide receiver coming off a first NFL season replete with missteps. There were a few dropped passes, a few routes that weren’t completed and too many incompletions.
Mitchell secured just 41.8% of his targeted passes (23-of-55), the worst rate in the NFL among receivers with at least 50 targets since Kelvin Benjamin in 2018 (37.3%) and the worst by a Colt since at least 1992.
As is generally the case, year 2 is conducive to better comfort and growth. The uncertain rookie who at times can be overwhelmed with everything thrown at him and expected of him – especially someone selected 52nd overall – should be replaced by a more poised second-year player.
That appears to be the case with Mitchell. He’s so much more comfortable with his surroundings, even though he enjoyed a superb rookie training camp before faltering during the regular season.
“Yeah, that’s probably the biggest thing,’’ he said. “I feel more poised. Last year just felt like I was rippin’ and runnin’ from the start of camp to the end of the year. I got the ability to get my first offseason under my belt, got a lot of time to, first of all, relax and work at the same time.
“We’re in year 2 now and I just feel more comfortable whether it’s in the meeting rooms, walkthrough. I’m not focused on what the play is or what do I have to do? I’m focused on how I’m doing it and why I’m doing what I’m doing.’’
Even so, Mitchell’s second training camp has been a two-part event. He endured a rocky first week with at least two dropped passes – there might have been a third – and a fumble after a reception, but is in the midst of a stellar second week.
About that uneven week 1?
“Honestly, I don’t know,’’ Mitchell said. “It felt like something was in the air or something. I knew it would eventually come together.
“I know my hands work. I know my routes work. It was just a matter of time. I guess just a couple-days slump.’’
“Things go in waves in training camp for guys,’’ offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. “But AD’s had a really nice week.’’
Mitchell provided a pair of highlights in Thursday night’s practice.
First, he got a half-step on rookie cornerback Johnathan Edwards down the right side, adjusted to Anthony Richardson Sr.’s pass, cradled it with his right arm and secured the football as he went to the ground. Mitchell bounced up and spun the football.
Next, when Daniel Jones was flushed to his right, Mitchell adjusted his route accordingly and grabbed Jones’ pass with both hands and got both feet down before sliding out of bounds.
Saturday, coach Shane Steichen had the offense backed up deep in its own territory. On third-and-long, Jones hooked up with Mitchell with a completion that moved the chains.
“The quarterback looked out there and saw AD Mitchell, and), ‘I’m going to throw it to AD. He’s going to get us out of this backed-up situation,’’’ Cooter said. “He was there for the quarterback. He was open.’’
Again, that’s the overriding mindset of Mitchell. He’s an ultra-gifted, 6-2, 205-pound member of an accomplished wideout room that features Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and Josh Downs.
And he knows he belongs.
“You just go out there and try to execute to the best of your ability every chance you get,’’ Mitchell said, whose rookie season consisted of 23 catches for 312 yards and zero touchdowns. “I feel like I have a lot of ability, so I try to put it on full display every day, every snap.
“Once it comes together, you just hope day-by-day you’re able to look back at the day and say, ‘Did I do everything I could have done today? And was I at my best?’ Everything else kind of works from there.’’
Mitchell has benefitted from position coach Reggie Wayne, whose confidence in Mitchell has never wavered.
“Hey man, listen, AD looked good,’’ Wayne said during the offseason work. “We haven’t had an argument yet. That’s a bonus.
“He’s come in and he’s slim. It looks like he’s been working out, which is good. His attention to detail is even better. That’s what you want to see.
“You want to see them grow each year.’’
Mitchell was asked how Wayne, the second-leading receiver in Colts history, treated him from a coach/player perspective.
“He definitely loves the tough love,’’ Mitchell said with a laugh. “But he’s very encouraging, I will say that. He definitely helped me a lot from last year.
“I feel like he’s been here every step of the way from when I first got here to where I am now in year 2 in my second training camp. I feel like he’s been the biggest voice in my ear . . . so I am definitely grateful to him.’’
QB update
Steichen worked heavily on red-zone situations, and it was a bad start for both quarterbacks.
Richardson opened 0-for-3 and had his third pass intercepted by Kenny Moore II. Jones was 1-for-3. Each warmed up on the next series as Jones was 3-for-3 with a touchdown to Tyler Warren and Richardson was 2-for-3 with a TD to Will Mallory.
“Red zone practices, when you sort them up at the end of the year, they don’t always end up being your highest-production practices,’’ Cooter said. “The defense sort of squeezes those zones, the man coverage is tighter . . .’’
Richardson finished Saturday 3-of-9 with a touchdown and an interception, while Jones was 10-of-14 with the TD to Warren.
In 7-on-7 work, linebacker Joe Bachie generated a highlight with an interception of Jones.
Kicking update
Position coach Brian Mason is still waiting for a sign of separation between Spencer Shrader and rookie Maddux Trujillo.
Saturday, Shrader connected on 39- and 44-yard attempts but glanced a 52-yarder off the left upright. Trujillo hit from 39 and 52 but was wide left from 44.
On kicks, Mason has charted through eight practices and pre-practice sessions. Shrader has converted 87% while Trujillo is at 74%. He expects the starting kicker to “be over 90%, which we’re not there, yet.’’
“They’re two talented, young kickers,’’ Mason said. “There are going to be some bumps in the road. We’ve just got to keep pushing them forward.
“We’re going to have those guys compete until somebody definitively shows himself to be the guy, and then we’ll move to that person getting the majority of the reps.’’
Injury update
Zaire Franklin made his first appearance in practice. The veteran linebacker has been working with the rehab staff after undergoing surgery on his left ankle.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.