Jets new WR Adonai Mitchell confident in his abilities: I'm 'a winner'
The Jets' Adonai Mitchell, who played at Georgia and Texas, was drafted 52nd overall and had nine catches for 152 yards in 2025 with the Colts. Credit: AP/Dennis Waszak Jr.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — “How would I describe myself?” Adonai Mitchell said after practice on Friday, repeating a question from a reporter. “A winner.”
That is good to hear for Jets fans, given that the second-year receiver got traded from the 7-2 Colts to the 1-7 Jets this week.
The hope is that helped by a change of circumstances, Mitchell, who turned 23 a month ago, has enough upside to help make actual winners of the Jets in the near future.
He was not the centerpiece of the trade that sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts for two first-round draft picks, but he was not irrelevant, either.
The 2024 second-round draft pick has the speed and skills to make a difference, in theory.
“Man, he is a true ‘X’ receiver,” coach Aaron Glenn said. “He is one that can win the one-on-one battles, slants, digs, go-balls.”
That might not happen on Sunday against the Browns. Glenn said Mitchell and his fellow newly acquired receiver, John Metchie, still are learning the system and will not be used if they are not ready.
But everything about the Jets is geared toward the future now, so all that matters is what Mitchell might do moving forward.
“That’s the plan, for him to come here and get a change of scenery,” Glenn said, “because he is definitely talented.”
Mitchell, who played for Georgia and Texas collegiately, was drafted 52nd overall. He started seven games last season and finished with 23 catches for 312 yards.
In 2025, he has nine catches for 152 yards but played only 24 snaps in his last four games and was a healthy scratch in one game. He has been targeted only once in each of his past four games.
Mitchell seemed to fall out of favor after a play against the Rams on Sept. 28 in which he lost control of the ball as he was switching hands going into the end zone alone for what would have been a touchdown. Instead, it became a touchback.
Asked about his lack of use with Indianapolis, he said, “Just a crowded [receivers] room. Everybody can’t go. I don’t feel any ill way toward the Colts’ organization.
“At the end of the day, they took a chance on me at 52 and I’m grateful to the Irsay family, I’m grateful to the GM, [Chris] Ballard, for taking a chance on me and the head coach [Shane Steichen].
“I hate that it didn’t work out, but like I said, I’m excited to be here.”
Mitchell, who now occupies the locker that Gardner vacated, said he understood the trade.
“I feel like the Colts made an offer [the Jets] just couldn’t turn down,” he said.
Notes & quotes: Glenn again declined to name his starting quarterback for Sunday. “We’ll have a quarterback,” he said . . . Wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) practiced fully. He is listed as questionable . . . Glenn on linebacker Quincy Williams’ demotion to backup, which Glenn declined to discuss or confirm: “Quincy’s going to be just fine. Just trust me on that. He’ll be just fine.”
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
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