Adonai Mitchell’s standout Jets camp has left Colts fans furious

For perhaps the first time since the Mark Sanchez era, New York Jets fans have a chance to laugh at the Indianapolis Colts.

Colts receiver Adonai Mitchell initially felt like a throw-in as part of last fall’s Sauce Gardner trade, though he flashed throughout the second half and is all but assured of a starting spot for the Jets. 

As for the Colts? Mitchell would probably be their No. 1 receiver right now with Josh Downs and Alec Pierce both injured. Instead, the third-year wideout is thriving in the Jets’ new-look offense and consistently impressing throughout training camp. 

Meanwhile, the trio of Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Anthony Gould started for the Colts on Saturday. 

Indianapolis Colts fans are missing New York Jets receiver Adonai Mitchell

The early revisionist history surrounding Mitchell is especially interesting because the trade is still so recent. Colts fans seemingly approved of last November’s move not because of Gardner’s arrival, but also because Mitchell was less than two months removed from a viral touchdown gaffe. 

Cliches exist for a reason, and all that talk about “you never realize what you have until it’s gone” is a popular sentiment among Colts fans on social media. 

“Young guy has an extremely explosive play and looks good on the field,” one fan wrote on X/Twitter. “Makes a dumb mistake and gets marked for death?”

Another user wrote, “A WR room so dire that people are steaming mad that they shipped off AD Mitchell.”

Objectively, the Colts’ overall situation feels like something out of the Jets’ playbook. They appeared to be a postseason lock — and a potential No. 1 seed — when they went all-in on landing Gardner. But no one could have predicted they’d miss the playoffs entirely, largely because quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard both suffered season-ending injuries. 

That’s not to say that Mitchell would have dominated with Philip Rivers throwing his way. But the Colts believed — and they still might feel this way — that they had a brief championship window, and giving up Mitchell alongside multiple draft picks was worth it. 

The fact that Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard both survived last year’s collapse is remarkable. They were so woefully unprepared for a rash of quarterback injuries that they willingly brought in Rivers, who hadn’t played in nearly five years. Even the Jets have mostly known when to admit defeat on a coach and a lead football executive. 

Not that the Jets should have hired Adam Gase in the first place, mind you.

All is forgiven if the Colts win the Super Bowl, though they’re arguably the third-best AFC South team. Jacksonville should at least hover around .500, and the Texans are better than the national media’s anti-C.J. Stroud narratives would have you believe. 

None of this quite matches a Wild Card Round victory in January 2011, but the Jets nonetheless get to enjoy a temporary victory over the Colts. It’s too bad that the only way Mitchell will get to twist the knife in the wound even further is if they meet in the postseason.

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