FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The Jets shocked the NFL world when they traded Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis last month. Getting two first-round picks for Gardner made it hard for the Jets to say no, but they got something else from the deal.
The talented second-year pro could develop into the No. 2 receiver the Jets have needed to pair with Garrett Wilson. The two haven’t played together because Wilson (knee) is on injured reserve, but Mitchell showed a glimpse of what he can do in Sunday’s win over Atlanta.
Mitchell had his best game. He caught eight passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. It was the kind of confidence-building performance that Mitchell needed with the Jets after an underwhelming start to his NFL career.
“It definitely feels good to me,” Mitchell said after practice Wednesday. “As long as I believe I can do it, then I know I can do it. I don’t really need nobody to tell me that they believe in me, because that’s not going to make me believe in myself. Belief always starts from the inside. So just proving things to myself, that definitely felt good.”
Mitchell, a second-round pick, only caught 32 passes in 25 games for the Colts. He nearly recorded his first touchdown against the Rams in September, but Mitchell let go of the ball just before crossing the goal line. It bounced out of bounds for a touchback.
In the next four games, Mitchell was targeted just four times and then was shipped out of Indianapolis just hours before the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
“I definitely was traded here for a reason,” Mitchell said. “That’s definitely something that that kind of stays with you and just adds fuel to the fire, in my opinion. It’s a good feeling being wanted. It’s not a good feeling not being wanted.”
The Jets said they traded for Mitchell for a reason. They wanted him.
Aaron Glenn said that Mitchell “was never a throw-in” in the Gardner trade and that they expect him to be “a huge part of what we’re doing” in the future.
Upon hearing this Mitchell said, “It sounds like they got plans that I don’t need to mess up.”
Mitchell, who played at Texas and Georgia, truly believes he’s the only one standing in his way of succeeding. In his Jets’ debut 10 days after the trade, Mitchell dropped three passes in a loss to New England in a Thursday night game.
“When I look back it, nobody stopped me from making a play,” Mitchell said. “It was pretty much the same thing that it’s always been: it was it was me versus me.
“It was a terrible performance, but It wasn’t a terrible performance in which I wasn’t able to do my job because somebody stopped me from doing my job.”
Mitchell redeemed himself last Sunday, but the Jets never lost faith. They believe in Mitchell, a deep threat and good route runner.
He’s been their most targeted receiver in the last three games. Mitchell has been thrown to 25 times and has 11 catches for 154 yards. He will continue to get opportunities to prove himself.
“AD is a very special talent,” quarterback Tyrod Taylor said. “Watching his routes and routes on air, watching how he practices every day, it means a lot to him. If you put the ball around him, he’s going to catch it.”
Receiver Isaiah Williams called Mitchell “a special football player” and said he’s in the practice facility at all hours catching passes from the jugs machine.
“He’s a different type of special,” Williams said. “When you got somebody that’s special like that but also he puts it in work, it’s motivating to see. Maybe one day, I could tell my kids I got to play with that guy.”
Mitchell can’t wait to play with Wilson. Mitchell likened it to playing with Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey and Xavier Worthy – just some of his college teammates.
“I think it’ll be good,” Mitchell said. “We kind of have a similar game, I feel like. We can just play off of each other, just help each other out.”
That’s the plan.
Two-minute drill
Edge rusher Jermaine Johnson (ankle) and safety Tony Adams (groin) didn’t practice Wednesday … Cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers is in the concussion protocol, but Glenn expects him to be cleared this week … Jarvis Brownlee (hip) and linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball (hamstring) have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Miami.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.