INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — On what was shaping up to be the breakout game that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver AD Mitchell had been dreaming of, it became a day he likely can't wait to forget.
The Colts were on the west coast at SoFi Stadium, taking on the host Los Angeles Rams. The Colts were down by three points and had just gotten a defensive stop to begin the second half. Quarterback Daniel Jones looked left and uncorked a deep ball for Mitchell, who adjusted, caught it, spun away from a pair of defenders, and outraced them down the sideline for a would-be 75-yard touchdown.
The issue is that Mitchell decided to extend the ball in front of him as he approached the goal line, losing control of it as it plunged to the ground ahead of him and ultimately out of the end zone, resulting in a touchback and a new Rams possession rather than a touchdown and the Colts reclaiming the lead in the game.
On its own, it was an egregious error by Mitchell, but it was made worse by the fact that nearly the same thing happened to the Colts less than a year ago, as Jonathan Taylor dropped the football in celebration on a 40-yard touchdown run ahead of the goal line, again resulting in a touchback rather than a touchdown. The Colts lost that game, too, and ultimately their chances at the postseason.
“It's a point of emphasis," Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters after the game when asked about the gaffe happening again. "I have to do a better job of emphasizing it more. It starts with me.”
The trouble didn't end there for Mitchell, though.
With the game tied at 20, and with just 2:25 remaining, running back Jonathan Taylor sliced through defenders along the left side, ultimately breaking free for a 53-yard touchdown, but there was a flag on the play. Offensive holding, No. 10 (Mitchell). Instead of taking a touchdown lead with about two minutes left, the Colts were forced to punt.
The Rams scored the game-winning, 88-yard touchdown on their next play. The Colts weren't able to recover from it and would lose their first game of the season.
The Colts had lost by a touchdown, and although it takes a team to lose, Mitchell's mistakes had clearly taken two touchdowns off the board.
"It definitely stings," Mitchell said after the game. "The ball was put in my hand to make a play for the team. It was a matter of losing focus and just a play that just can't happen. Just unacceptable. I've got to be better for the team...This play hurts. It hurts a lot."
Outside of those plays, Mitchell actually had a performance you'd hope to see. (Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?) Lost in the turmoil is that Mitchell had a career-high 96 yards on three receptions: a nine-yarder, a 12-yarder, and the one.
However, what do you do with a player who, for more than a year now, has not shown the maturity and instincts necessary to be trusted with the ball in his hands?
“Yeah, no question," Steichen answered when asked about Mitchell again on Monday. "You know what? He took accountability in the team meeting (and) spoke to the team to start the team meeting. I had a conversation with him in my office today, just letting him know that, obviously, this moment doesn't define who you are as a person. But he knows going forward he's going to have to earn it – going forward and how he practices and how he prepares.”
After Steichen said that Mitchell would have to "earn it" going forward, he was asked if Mitchell would be active and playing this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Yeah. I mean, he's going to go through practice, and like I said, he's got to earn it going forward,” Steichen said.
Mitchell was put into an increased role against the Rams due to an injury to starter Alec Pierce, so once Pierce returns, that will naturally relegate Mitchell back to his original role. However, there is wiggle room for Mitchell's usage to either increase or decrease.
So, what will change with Mitchell's role, if anything? It appears to be up to him.
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.
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