INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has struggled to start the season.
Mitchell just six takes for 70 yards in his first five games. During weeks 3 and 4 he had no catch.
But, with an injury to Michael Pittman Jr., he could play a bigger role in the wide receiver room moving forward.
Mitchell reflected on the start of his NFL career and talked about what he’s learned so far.
“I’m young,” Mitchell said. “There’s a lot to learn, a lot to develop, and there’s no one in the Hall of Fame from his freshman year. After five games, we’re going to move on, and we’re going to look back on this moment and talk about things in a very different way.
He said he considers this his first year of college.
During his first year of college at Georgia, he had 29 receptions for 426 yards and four touchdowns. He appeared in every game, but didn’t break out immediately. He also struggled in his sophomore year, playing in only six games and making nine catches.
It didn’t break out until his freshman year when he transferred to Texas.
Mitchell added that there are a lot of things he does well and a lot of things he’s still working on.
“Be a lot simpler,” he said. “I feel like I often complicate things. Try putting lots of hot sauce on the routes, and sometimes all you need is salt.
It was criticized during the game against the Jaguars that Mitchell had “alligator arms.” Mitchell agreed it looked like that.
“What did it look like? I would say it’s pretty fair to the naked eye,” Mitchell said. “But like I said, details matter in everything. If you’re thinking one thing as a receiver (and) your quarterback is thinking another thing, the only thing that matters is the outcome.
Mitchell had his best game statistically against the Jaguars last week (four catches for 38 yards) and also threw a 24-yard pass.
Colts receiver Josh Downs has missed both practices so far this week and is listed as questionable heading into the Colts’ game against the Titans on Sunday, so they could be without two of their top three receivers.
The Colts and Titans kick off Sunday at 1 p.m. in Nashville.
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COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
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