Reggie Wayne staying supportive but firm with Adonai Mitchell after wide receiver’s costly fumble in Week 4

Colts wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne spoke to the media on Thursday for the first time since wide receiver Adonai Mitchell’s fumble at the goal line in the Colts’ Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams, voicing his support for the second-year player while also making it clear Mitchell must continue to work hard to earn his way back onto the field.

Immediately after the game, Mitchell took complete responsibility for the mistake and recognized he’s got to be better for his team.

“Just lost focus,” he said. “Made a play that can’t happen.”

In the days following, head coach Shane Steichen and Mitchell’s teammates made it clear they still fully supported the young wide receiver. Steichen also made it clear, though, that Mitchell would have to earn his role going forward.

“He’s got to through practice and earn it each and every day – the meetings, the preparation and how he prepares, how he practices throughout the week,” Steichen said last week.

Mitchell played six offensive snaps in the Colts’ Week 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, all in the fourth quarter when the Colts, up 40-6, brought in their backups – including quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. With wide receiver Alec Pierce out with a concussion, Ashton Dulin started alongside Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs and played 47 of the team’s 66 total offensive snaps.

And as the Colts prepare for their Week 6 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Mitchell’s position remains the same: he’s got to keep working and earning his opportunities.

“He’s grown,” Wayne said Thursday. “He knows what ‘earn it’ means. He has to do the little things right and be consistent with it and earn his way back. And from my knowledge, he’s doing everything to get back on the field. So I guess only time will tell.

“It’s just something that he’s got to get over. I can guarantee he’ll never do it again, not just because he don’t want to be in that situation again, (but because) he’s learned from it. So it can be lack of focus, excitement, can be all that stuff. Hopefully he’s put it behind him.”