Adonai Mitchell’s End Zone Blunder Hands Daniel Jones-Led Colts 1st Loss of Season

Adonai Mitchell was on the verge of giving Daniel Jones his second touchdown and the Indianapolis Colts a momentum swinging score.

Adonai Mitchell’s End Zone Blunder Hands Daniel Jones-Led Colts 1st Loss of Season

Colts QB Daniel Jones and WR Adonai Mitchell (Image via Colts on SI/Dick Johnson/X)

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With the Indianapolis Colts, Daniel Jones was on an unbelievable redemption arc, as his throws to leading receivers Adonai Mitchell and Michael Pittman Jr. were efficient, and most importantly, free from turnovers.

In their fourth game of the season, the undefeated Colts, playing a collective team effort, sought to extend their winning streak against the Los Angeles Rams, who had lost their previous game to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jones, however, could not keep his 0-turnover streak alive with an interception in the game’s very first drive. He then shook that off and helped the Colts to a field goal and a touchdown.

At half-time, the 10-13 score meant it was still anybody’s game, and Jones went back to work with his offense. After connecting on a short throw to running back Jonathan Taylor, the offense again lined up for a pass play.

The quarterback was playing with confidence, and that was evident when he heaved a perfect throw to wideout Adonai Mitchell, despite seeing three defensive linemen close him down.

The receiver also brilliantly adjusted his route and his pacing to catch the ball and avoid Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes‘ attempts to dislodge the ball. Mitchell, then seeing safety Kamren Curl closing in, spun the other way, leaving the two defenders in the dust.

Even though Forbes managed to regain his footing and chased down the Colts’ wideout, he could not stop him from running free towards the end zone. Then, the fumble of the game happened.

As Adonai Mitchell was about to cross the goal line, he stretched his hand out, only for the ball to slip and bounce on the field. In his attempts to gather it, the Texas alum tumbled out of bounds.

Adonai Mitchell’s fumble costs the Colts momentum

While fumbling the ball, Adonai Mitchell’s mind might have been racing to try to gather it before it went out of bounds. The problem is that he could not stop himself from rolling out with the ball in his hands.

That means he committed a touchback, giving the Los Angeles Rams an easy 3 points on a play their offense did not have to play a snap. In fact, the home team would then get a chance to increase its lead.

Had Mitchell scored that touchdown instead of making the same mistake his teammate Jonathan Taylor infamously committed, the Indianapolis Colts would have piled the pressure on the Rams.

Moreover, it would have given Daniel Jones the confidence to continue throwing good, clean passes. Instead, late in the 4th quarter, with the game in the hands of the Rams, the former Giants quarterback again threw an interception.

So much could have been different for the Colts had Mitchell not fumbled it so egregiously. Instead, they now head back home with the wideout potentially facing a reprimand from the team and their fans.

Daniel Jones backs Adonai Mitchell after costly fumble

Adonai Mitchell might get an earful from head coach Shane Steichen, as well as his teammates. However, quarterback Daniel Jones, knowing very well how public narratives can impact a player and their respective careers, did his wideout a favor.

Daniel Jones kept the heat off his young wideout
Daniel Jones kept the heat off his young wideout (Image via Barstool Sports/X)

First, he made a heck of a catch to get to the ball. Incredible catch. I mean, tough play for sure, after such a tremendous effort, just lost the ball there at the end. Feel for him. I know he hurts with that. He’ll bounce back… We all have a lot of faith in AD, and I’ll continue to have a ton of faith in AD.

Daniel Jones said at the post-game press conference

The 28-year-old reiterated that one play does not define a game, as he felt the entire team did not do as well as they did so far this season. That was a mature response, enough to keep the spotlight out of the young receiver’s head.

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