Ashton

Dulin

Pierce was declared out on Friday due to a concussion he suffered in Week 15. Fellow WR Ashton Dulin (ankle) is active and in line for increased snaps with Pierce out. TE Mo Alie-Cox (hip) and K Matt Gay (neck) are also active while LB EJ Speed (knee) is the Colts’ other injury inactive.

Downs was ruled out Friday for the opener against the Texans, and all Steichen mentioned was that the wideout will be “monitored” for the week. The 23-year-old seems likely to also be out of action as well for Sunday’s Week 2 tilt against the Packers, which means more snaps for Adonai Mitchell, Alec Pierce and Ashton Dulin.

Downs went down on Wednesday morning with an ugly ankle injury that turned out to be a high ankle sprain. The second-year receiver will miss the rest of training camp and the entire preseason. He’ll be iffy for the Colts’ season opener against the Texans. It’s a blow to Shane Steichen’s offense and one that could leave the unheralded Ashton Dulin as the team’s top slot guy to start the year.

Dulin did not participate in OTAs or minicamp, as the sixth-year receiver continues to recover from a torn ACL in training camp last year. In the posted workout video, Dulin appears to be doing plenty of running and cutting, but whether or not he’ll be ready for the start of training camp is to be determined. Dulin has caught 33 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns in 55 career games and will likely be competing for a spot on the 53-man roster in training camp.

Dulin did say he was feeling good and is at the point in his rehab process where he is ready to return to the field. The former UDFA went for 207 receiving yards and one score in 2022. He also contributed 187 special teams reps. The two-way usage earned him a two-year contract in the offseason. Dulin tore his ACL in training camp last year and missed the 2023 season. As long as it was a clean tear, he should be ready for the start of the 2024 season. Dulin’s days as a dynasty stash are long gone, but he should contribute as a receiver wideout and a special teamer in the upcoming season.

Dulin was signed to a two-year contract worth up to $9.2 million this offseason. The 26-year-old vet totaled 15 receptions for 207 yards and one touchdown last season and was competing for a backup receiver role in camp. It’s a tough break for Dulin, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and was once considered a potential dynasty sleeper by fantasy managers.

Dulin, 25, was an interesting prospect with a breakout age of 18 and a 95th percentile speed score. The Colts used him both in the slot and on the outside during his limited playing time last year. He had a 31.5 percent target share over the season’s first two games in 2022 as the team struggled with wideout injuries. Dulin could be an interesting name to watch if the Colts don’t add much receiver help in the draft.

Entering free agency off one of the most-involved seasons of his career, Dulin peaked in Week 2 with a 5/79 line as the Colts desperately tried to find ways to get Matt Ryan to complete some passes. Dulin fits the ideal dimensions of the power slot role, but hasn’t gotten much of a chance in the starting lineup. He’ll be a depth add somewhere, perhaps back in Indianapolis if Chris Ballard is indeed retained as general manager.

This comes as no surprise after Dulin took a helmet to helmet hit from Chargers safety Derwin James last Monday night. The 25-year-old will finish the season with a 15/207/1 line on 22 targets if he doesn’t return in Week 18.

Dulin’s first target of the game came at a price as Derwin James came at him like a missile. James delivered a helmet to helmet hit and was immediately ejected from the game. Dulin went to the locker room and has been ruled out with a concussion.