Though segments of the fanbase is calling for his benching, the Indianapolis Colts aren’t willing to go quite that far with second-year WR Adonai Mitchell. On Friday, Colts head coach Shane Steichen reaffirmed his confidence in the young receiver. However, a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Saturday night may tell a different story.
Per Fowler, Mitchell will be active on Sunday, but he may play a limited role. Mitchell is usually Indy’s fourth receiver, but with WR Alec Pierce still dealing with a concussion suffered in Week 3 against the Titans, Mitchell was elevated to the WR3 role last week against the Rams. He had two critical mistakes that contributed to a Colts loss, including a holding penalty on a long run and, after making an incredible catch and run, fumbling the ball out of the back of the end zone.
As a result, Mitchell will take a back seat on Sunday to WR Ashton Dulin, a speedster for the Colts who primarily plays special teams. Per Fowler, Mitchell will still have a role, but it may be limited.
WR Adonai Mitchell is the Best Separator on the Indianapolis Colts
Ronald Martinez/GettyINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 28: Adonai Mitchell #10 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
When the Colts drafted Mitchell last year, Steichen was buzzing about how easily he gained separation at the tops of his routes. In his final season in college at Texas, Mitchell had 55 receptions for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. When watching his tape, it was evident how smoothly he moved, and his 4.32-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine proved his top-end speed.
Mitchell joined a crowded Colts receiver room, and he’s been buried on the depth chart. That said, he’s produced when called upon, with 23 receptions for 312 yards as a rookie. So far this season, he has seven receptions for 137 yards in four games.
When Mitchell fumbled out of the end zone for a turnover last week against the Rams, he never seemed to recover mentally. He’d made an incredible catch down the sideline, beating sticky coverage with a clean grab and a spin away from two defenders, causing them to collide. As he raced down the sideline for his first NFL touchdown, he tried to hold them ball out in front of him as he crossed the goal line, but the ball slipped out of his hands.
After that moment, he was visibly upset with himself, and no matter how many times teammates and coaches came over to encourage him, he couldn’t snap out of it. During a timeout, he could be seen pacing in circles while the rest of the offense huddled up. Mitchell’s smaller role this week could simply be a tactic by the coaching staff to ease the pressure on him.
The Indianapolis Colts Have a Chance to Go on a Run
The Colts are 3-1 on the year, tied with the Jaguars at the top of the AFC South. Over the next few weeks, they play the Raiders, Cardinals, Chargers, Titans, Steelers, and Falcons — all winnable games. Indianapolis will be favored in most of those, as well.
With one of the most efficient offenses in football and an improving defense, the Colts are set for a surge in the standings in the coming weeks, and it could lead to a solid grasp on the division.
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