Adonai Mitchell has only shared a field with Anthony Richardson for a few weeks, but second-year quarterback has already left a strong impression on the rookie wide receiver.
"Every time I step on the field I'm like, what are we going to get today? Like, I can't wait to see it," Mitchell said. "I can't wait to be a part of it and I can't wait to play with it. It's been fun just learning each other, learning what he likes to do, what I think as a receiver and just mixing the two because once we're on the same page — if the whole offense is on the same page with that one man, it'll be a very special year."
Richardson, through two weeks of OTAs and now into this week's three-day mandatory veteran minicamp at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, hasn't been limited – and certainly hasn't looked limited – from the shoulder surgery that ended his 2023 season after four games.
Mitchell knew a little about Richardson prior to arriving in Indianapolis, but after a few weeks of helmets-and-shorts practices he's learned his quarterback is a "freak."
"He's one of those players that can legit do anything on the field," Mitchell said. "You talk about arm strength — crazy arm strength — this man can roll right, throw on the opposite hash to the left. This is a lot of stuff I ain't seen before."
These early chemistry-building practices are important for Richardson and Mitchell not just for how each operate within the structure of a play, but outside of it. A hallmark of Richardson's game is his ability to keep his eyes downfield while escaping the pocket – he's said he looks to throw before he looks to run – which means his receivers need to be ready to get open if a play gets extended.
"I feels like that (chemistry) happens naturally," Mitchell said. "If a play breaks down, he's looking to scramble. And if you're not on the same page as him, the you're messing up. So you don't want to be that guy that while he's scrambling, you're just standing around looking around. The play is never over with him."
Briefly
- Safety Daniel Scott sustained a torn Achilles in practice last week and will miss the 2024 season, head coach Shane Steichen said Tuesday. It's a brutal blow for Scott, a 2023 fifth-round pick who missed his rookie season with a torn ACL sustained during last year's veteran minicamp. General manager Chris Ballard, over the last few months, mentioned Scott a few times as someone the Colts believed could compete to contribute on defense and special teams in 2024.
- Wide receiver Alec Pierce said he put on about five pounds this offseason – and he certainly looked like he bulked up – after wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne and members of the Colts' front office charged him with adding play strength in 2024.
