After a rocky start to training camp for Indianapolis Colts’ second-year wide receiver AD Mitchell, he’s bounced back over the last two practices and is building some momentum.
Drops were an issue for Mitchell during his rookie season. According to PFF, Mitchell had the fourth-highest drop rate among wideouts in 2024, which contributed to him catching just 45% of his targets.
Despite putting together what Jim Bob Cooter called an “exciting” spring, dropped passes were still something Mitchell was working through during the early portion of training camp. The Athletic’s James Boyd posted that by his count, Mitchell had four drops through the first four practices.
“Guys are going to have good plays, some guys are going to have bad plays at times, and we got a lot of confidence in him,” Shane Steichen said after Saturday’s practice. “He’s a hell of a route runner. Everyone’s development is different, so we’re working through that and got a ton of confidence in his ability.”
However, over the last two training camp practices, Mitchell has been trending in the right direction. On Monday, he would win back-to-back one-on-one matchups against former All-Pro cornerback Charvarius Ward.
AD on the move. 💨 pic.twitter.com/oaag7DhIXf
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) July 28, 2025
During Tuesday’s practice, Mitchell again stood out during the one-on-one portion of practice, showcasing the impressive route-running abilities we know he has. He then connected with Daniel Jones on three straight plays during 7-on-7s, according to Horseshoe Huddle’s Jake Arthur.
As ESPN’s receiver score indicates, and as we’ve seen since Mitchell arrived in Indianapolis, his ability to get open and win his route, especially against man coverage, has been evident. However, the overall consistency has been missing.
Mitchell’s combination of route running and athleticism makes him a difficult matchup and someone who can impact all levels of the field. But earning more in-game opportunities starts with steady play in practices.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts training camp: After rocky start, AD Mitchell building momentum