Wide receiver Adonai 'AD' Mitchell's highly anticipated debut for the New York Jets turned into a personal nightmare on Thursday Night Football, culminating in a performance he will be desperate to forget.
The former Texas star, who was acquired by the Jets as part of the return for cornerback Sauce Gardner, was targeted six times but managed to secure only a single catch in the game against the New England Patriots.
A Catalogue of Errors
What defined Mitchell's disastrous evening were not the passes he failed to catch, but the ones he should have secured. The receiver was guilty of three clear drops, each more frustrating than the last.
The first missed opportunity saw Mitchell with a clear five yards of separation from his defender. He got both hands on the ball but failed to maintain control as he fell to the ground. Later, running a slant route near the red zone, he watched the football sail directly through his outstretched arms. The most galling instance came when he successfully burned Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, only for the perfectly placed pass to slip straight through his fingers.
Fan Fury and Self-Reflection
Fans, particularly those of his former team, were swift and merciless in their criticism on social media platform X. One Indianapolis Colts supporter wrote, 'I don't think any Colts fan delights in AD Mitchell's early struggles with the Jets. However, absolutely no Colts fan is remotely surprised.'
Another commented, 'I'm so glad AD Mitchell is dropping passes somewhere else,' while a different user highlighted the third drop, stating, 'AD Mitchell smoking one of the best corners in the NFL and then watching the ball go through his hands is so perfect.'
Mitchell himself did not shy away from the criticism, placing the blame squarely on his own shoulders. He stated, 'If I could really pinpoint anything, I would point the finger at myself and say I need to perform better. I just need to do better.'
Looking for Redemption
The Jets' defeat saw their season record slump to a dismal 2-8, while the Patriots improved to an impressive 9-2.
All eyes will now be on Mitchell to see how he responds to this humbling introduction to New York. His next chance for redemption comes next Sunday when the Jets travel to face the Baltimore Ravens, offering an immediate opportunity to rewrite the narrative surrounding his tenure with the team.
