Reggie Wayne knows a thing or five about being a good wide receiver in the NFL. He also knows what it takes to be a good wideout for the Indianapolis Colts. These are just two reasons he is the wide receivers coach for Indy.
One of his newer students is a bit of a challenge, though. Adonai Mitchell was chosen in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft and hasn't been good so far. The young wideout appears to care about his trade, so what the exact issue is seems unknown.
Colts fans have watched him care. After his two critical mistakes led directly to a loss against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4, Mitchell answered reporters' questions in a humble manner, clearly in shock at what had just happened. He could have just said he wasn't answering questions, but he didn't.
Reggie Wayne delivers the brutal truth about Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell
Still, while the team, from players to coaches, all said the right things about AD Mitchell after the game, in reality, the wide receiver was in the proverbial doghouse. Head coach Shane Steichen advised the receiver would have to earn his reps back, even while veteran Alec Pierce missed another game.
Pierce didn't play in Week 5, but Mitchell got only six reps. Ashton Dulin picked up Pierce's reps, and he was decent, but not great.
Pierce is set to return in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals, so what does that mean for Mitchell, specifically? According to Wayne, nothing good.
Wayne told reporters this week, "(Mitchell) knows what 'earn it' means. He has to do the little things right and be consistent with it, and earn his way back. And from my knowledge, he's doing everything to get back on the field. So I guess only time will tell."
To be sure, Adonai Mitchell is not injured. He obviously isn't doing the things in practice and meetings to fully earn the trust of coaches again. If there was no issue with that trust, Mitchell would have played quite a bit in Week 5, but he didn't.
With Alec Pierce returning, and no other injuries in the Indianapolis Colts' wide receiver room, one might even guess that Mitchell is a healthy scratch and therefore inactive for the Arizona Cardinals game. That might not happen, but he is also unlikely to get many reps. He just hasn't earned it yet.