Indianapolis Colts fans might be holding their breath for their favorite team's Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Indy will be missing two important players, one on offense and one on defense, with another versatile player ruled out, too.
The bad news is that cornerback Charvarius Ward will miss the game while going through concussion protocol. Unfortunately, this is Ward's second concussion of the season, and we are only seven games into the season. Let's hope he doesn't suffer another, more for him as a human being than as a football player.
Wide receivers Josh Downs and Ashton Dulin are out, too. Dulin has a chest injury. Downs, like Ward, is going through concussion protocol. Downs might be one of the three best slot receivers in the league.
Indianapolis Colts' Week 7 injuries might allow Adonai Mitchell a chance at redemption
With Downs and Dulin out, Week 7 might become a redemption game for Adonai Mitchell. The receiver has a terrible Week 4 in Indy's only loss of the season. If not for his mistakes, the Colts might still be undefeated. He literally gave away 14 points in a 27-20 loss.
That means Week 7 could be a special game for the second-round 2024 draft pick. He wasn't good as a rookie, catching only 41 percent of his targets. In his second year, it seems as if he simply doesn't understand how to run routes in the NFL and what head coach Shane Steichen needs.
It only takes one game to change that. Even in his Week 4 meltdown. AD Mitchell caught three passes for 96 yards, and one of those should have been a game-changing 76-yard touchdown run. He dropped the ball just before the end zone, though.
He knows he made a mistake. Mitchell probably also knows he has a great opportunity to make amends against the Los Angeles Chargers. If he is a star, minds will be changed and confidence will be gained, both by the wide receiver and his Indianapolis Colts coaching staff.
Does he deserve to have another second or third opportunity to prove what he can do in the NFL? Sure. He's not a bad guy. Everybody deserves lots of chances in the same situation. Let's hope Adonai Mitchell makes the most of his.