Ashton Dulin going on IR could be costly for a Colts offense that’s already struggling
The Indianapolis Colts placed Ashton Dulin on injured reserve after the receiver suffered a foot injury in Week 5 against the Broncos.
The Thursday night game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos was a game that brought fans a lot of laughter and a lot of concern for both teams. Although Indy won the game, it left with its fair share of losses. One of those losses was wide receiver Ashton Dulin who sustained a foot injury. On Tuesday, the team placed Dulin on injured reserve which means he has to miss at least four games.
Obviously, you never want to see anyone get hurt and miss an extended period of time but some people, be it fans or media members, may be inclined to just brush this off as Dulin missing four games. The concern level isn’t as high as it would be if it was Michael Pittman Jr. or Alec Pierce. However, Dulin’s absence will have a noticeable impact that the Colts must overcome.
Ashton Dulin has been impactful for the Colts
Through five games, Dulin is Indy’s third-leading receiver with 168 yards on 12 catches. Of Indy’s top three pass catchers, he was the only one to play in the first five games. While he may not be established as a go-to target like Pittman or the developing Pierce, Dulin had a role in helping this offense get going whenever they were able to move the ball.
Ashton Dulin was the only receiver to really step up on Sunday. Ryan showed trust in Dulin as he continued to make tough catches over the middle. Nice accuracy by Ryan, especially to put it behind Dulin so the hits weren’t any harder than they were. pic.twitter.com/msx1IO1YHk
— Andrew Moore (@AndrewMooreNFL) September 20, 2022
In Indy’s first two games, Dulin was one of the most productive receivers catching three passes for 46 yards in Week 1 and 5 receptions for 79 yards in Week 2. With him out for at least the next four weeks, the Colts will test the depth of an already struggling wide receiver group.
That means it’s time for certain guys to step up and be productive. Parris Campbell is one of those guys. In a pivotal year for his career, Campbell hasn’t been able to be consistently productive. Now is a great time for him to start. Young guys like Mike Strachan and Dezmon Patmon, who will probably get elevated from the practice squad, also need to deliver in their opportunities.
The Colts’ offense has already been struggling and faced the challenge of trying to turn things around and be more productive. That task gets even harder now with Ashton Dulin sidelined for at least the next four games.
