One of the most versatile players on the Indianapolis roster is expected to miss some of the Colts’ stretch run, according to Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen.
Ashton Dulin, the wide receiver and gunner who plays a variety of roles for Indianapolis, suffered a hamstring injury late in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs.
“He has a hamstring, and it looks like he’ll probably miss some time,” Steichen said. “I don’t know how much, but he’ll probably miss some time.”
Dulin represents a significant loss for a Colts special teams unit that is ranked among the league leaders in almost every major category this season.
The team’s primary gunner on punts, Dulin has played a critical role in Rigoberto Sanchez leading the NFL with a net punting average of 47.1 yards, the best mark in the league by nearly a full yard. As the team’s primary gunner, Dulin is often the player who gets in the punt returner’s face, forcing them to call for a fair catch.
Dulin has eight tackles on special teams this season.
But his impact goes beyond his ability as a gunner. Dulin has also been one of the primary kickoff returners for a Colts return unit that ranks No. 1 in the NFL, averaging 29.0 yards per return; Dulin has 11 returns for 328 yards this season, a 29.8-yard average that has been instrumental in giving Indianapolis good field position.
“Ashton Dulin is one of the three best special teams players in the NFL,” Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason said last week. “He always plays in a great body position. He makes great decisions. He plays with great fundamentals and technique.”
Without Dulin available, the Colts will likely have to lean on backup running back Tyler Goodson, who made a key stop on a punt late in the game, at gunner, along with defensive back Chris Lammons, coming off a three-tackle performance on special teams in Kansas City.
Indianapolis must also replace Dulin on offense.
Dulin has played 132 offensive snaps this season, deploying mostly as a blocker but also as an explosive weapon the Colts can scheme into big gains.
Dulin has five catches for 106 yards this season, including a 48-yard catch-and-run on Sunday when Indianapolis lined him up in a tight end’s spot and leaked him across the formation; he also has three carries for 44 yards.
Big, fast and strong, Dulin is so versatile that the Colts have even given him a snap on defense this season, lining up Dulin as a linebacker in order to get a spy on speedy Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, although Murray’s absence due to injury in Indianapolis limited Dulin’s role to just one snap.
Without Dulin in the lineup, the Colts will have to turn to a combination of players to replace his spot on the roster — veteran Laquon Treadwell seems like the likely replacement at wide receiver — and try to fill shoes that are much larger than a lot of people realize.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Ashton Dulin’s hamstring injury is a big loss for Colts
Reporting by Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
