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.
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.
“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.
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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.
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. pic.twitter.com/bhmftxi0ia
— 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.
“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.”
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.”
(Photo: Michael Conroy / Associated Press)