Ashton Dulin

Colts’ Ashton Dulin Tears ACL, Lands On IR

A backup wide receiver and special-teamer on the past four Colts teams, Ashton Dulin will not play this season. The veteran wideout suffered a torn ACL in practice, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets, and will be sidelined for the year.

The Colts have already responded with a roster move. Placing Dulin on IR, the team signed wide receiver Tyler Adams. A former Butler target, Adams initially stayed in Indianapolis as a UDFA this offseason. The Colts had waived Adams in May, but after Dulin’s injury, he will join the team in training camp.

Dulin, 26, has been with the Colts since joining the team as a UDFA in 2019. Becoming a steady NFLer out of Division II Malone College (Ohio), Dulin has made three starts over the past two seasons. Injuries to higher-profile Colts pass catchers brought in Dulin, who totaled five receptions for 79 yards in a Week 2 start against the Jaguars last year. Dulin returned to his backup role the following week and finished with 15 receptions for 207 yards and a touchdown in 2022.

A foot injury, one that sent Dulin to IR, impacted that total. Dulin also spent time on IR in 2020. Despite making a coaching change this year, the Colts re-signed Dulin on a two-year, $7.2MM deal. The 6-foot-1 wideout received $3.5MM guaranteed.

Indianapolis has made some adjustments at receiver this offseason. The now-Shane Steichen-led team signed Isaiah McKenzie and drafted fellow slot Josh Downs in the third round. The team also recently added Amari Rodgers, who asked for his Texans release, and signed Breshad Perriman earlier this offseason. Mike Strachan, Juwann Winfree and Vyncint Smith also reside as aspiring backups in Indianapolis.

Colts Re-Sign WR Ashton Dulin, Sign DT Taven Bryan

The Colts have finalized contracts with players on both sides of the ball. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports (via Twitter) that the Colts are re-signing wide receiver Ashton Dulin. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Colts are signing defensive tackle Taven Bryan.

Dulin is inking a two-year deal worth $9.2MM. Doug Kyed clarifies (on Twitter) that Dulin will earn $7.2MM and can make another $2MM via incentives and base escalators. The wideout is due $3.5MM in guaranteed money.

Dulin, a 2019 UDFA out of Division II Malone, has transformed into a key special teams player for the Colts. He earned a second-team All-Pro nod in 2021 after he finished with 17 tackles and three fumble recoveries (one of which was returned for a TD), and he’s even seen some time returning kickoffs. Dulin has also managed to contribute on offense, hauling in 28 catches and three touchdowns over the past two seasons.

Bryan will sign a one-year deal worth $4.5MM. The former first-round pick collected 5.5 sacks in four seasons for the Jaguars. After having his fifth-year option declined, he signed with the Browns for the 2022 campaign. The 27-year-old proceeded to start all 16 games for Cleveland, collecting 26 tackles and three sacks.

Chargers Plan To Activate Joey Bosa From IR

A Joey Bosa ramp-up period does not seem to be in the cards for the Chargers. Despite the perennial Pro Bowl pass rusher missing 12 games and only being designated for return Thursday, the Bolts are preparing to activate him from IR for Week 17.

Brandon Staley said the plan is for Bosa to play this week against the Rams, per NFL.com’s Bridget Condon (on Twitter). Bosa has been out since Week 3 because of a groin injury that required surgery.

The seventh-year defender said this week he has dealt with this issue for a while and indicated upon his return to practice he felt better than he has in years. Bosa has dealt with a number of injuries since the Bolts drafted him third overall in 2016, but this year’s absence has been the longest. The Chargers have managed to recover from their injury-affected swoon, however, and are playoff-bound for the first time since 2018 — Bosa’s previous year with a major injury.

Bosa missed four games as a rookie in 2016 (hamstring), was shut down for nine during the 2018 season (foot) and missed four more contests in 2020 (two concussions). Despite being often sidetracked by injuries, the former Ohio State star has four double-digit sack seasons on his resume. His return to anchor Los Angeles’ pass rush will certainly enhance the Bolts’ chances of being a major factor in the playoffs.

The Chargers, who only had the chance to play Bosa and Khalil Mack together for two full games, have picked up the pace in quarterback pressure recently. They sacked Nick Foles seven times Monday night and recorded four in a last-second win over the Titans in Week 15. Mack has a team-high eight sacks, making the Pro Bowl for a seventh time, while both Morgan Fox and Drue Tranquill hit the five-sack mark in Indianapolis. The supporting-casters have 11.5 combined sacks this season, with Tranquill putting together an interesting stat line that includes five sacks and 129 tackles.

Much of the injury trouble the Chargers have encountered is in the rear-view mirror. Justin Herbert, who suffered a rib injury in Week 2, has played better over the past several weeks. Both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have returned from their earlier health issues as well. The Chargers have not opened Rashawn Slater‘s practice window yet, but their left tackle returning from an early-season biceps injury remains in play.

Derwin James had missed time but returned for the Chargers-Colts tilt. However, he was ejected for leading with his helmet on a first-half tackle. Both James and the player he tackled, Indianapolis wideout Ashton Dulin, sustained concussions on the play. Both are out for Week 17.

Colts Activate WR Ashton Dulin, Place LB Shaquille Leonard On IR

NOVEMBER 13: Leonard may miss the remainder of the season, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The 27-year-old ‘backer is scheduled to meet with renowned neck surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles on Monday, which will provide some clarity on his playing status.

NOVEMBER 12: The Colts are getting some reinforcement on offense and special teams. The team has activated wide receiver/special teams ace Ashton Dulin from injured reserve. To make room on the roster, the team officially placed linebacker Shaquille Leonard on IR. The Colts have also promoted tight end Nikola Kalinic and running back Jordan Wilkins from the practice squad.

Dulin suffered a foot injury back in October, landing him on injured reserve. He returned to practice earlier this week. The 25-year-old made a name for himself in 2021 after earning a second-team All-Pro nod on special teams, with his 17 ST tackles ranking second in the league. Dulin also started to see a larger role on offense in 2021, finishing with 13 catches for 173 yards and two scores. Dulin was continuing to see a role on offense in 2022, with the wideout hauling in 12 catches for 168 yards in five games (one start).

We learned yesterday that Leonard had suffered a setback with his back injury during practice this week. The injury will now knock him out for at least four games. The linebacker has been limited to only three games in 2022 thanks to a concussion, nose surgery, and back injury.

“I had no power in my leg, just trying to fight through that through the whole season and Wednesday practice, something didn’t feel right,” Leonard said on Instagram (via The Athletic’s James Boyd on Twitter). “I had a setback.”

Wilkins, a 2018 fifth-round pick by the Colts, has seen a reduced role in recent years following three consecutive 300-plus-yard seasons to begin his career. The 28-year-old has seen time in one game for Indy this season, getting seven touches for 28 yards. Kalinic was a former second-round pick in the CFL. After spending the preseason with the Colts, he landed on the organization’s practice squad.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/9/22

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco 49ers

Adams, Dulin, Ellefson, Galeai, Washington and Willis each have until Nov. 30 to be activated from IR. Should they not be activated, they would revert to season-ending IR. The Colts and Vikings are in solid shape regarding activations, having only used one apiece. The Bears, Cardinals, 49ers and Packers have used three such moves apiece. Teams are allotted eight injury activations this season.

The Cowboys dangled Basham in trades before last week’s deadline, but no takers emerged. While the team cut the other D-lineman they were hoping to deal — Trysten Hill, who has since been claimed by the Cardinals — they ended up using one of their injury activations on Basham. A former Colts third-round pick, Basham notched 3.5 sacks during his first Cowboys season last year. He played in one game this season (Week 1) before going down with a quadriceps injury. The Cowboys, who have Tyron Smith and James Washington on their IR-return radar, have used two injury activations this season.

Colts Place WR Ashton Dulin On IR

Ashton Dulin will be out for at least the next four games. The Colts announced that they’ve placed the wide receiver/special teams ace on injured reserve. To fill the open roster spot, the team signed defensive tackle Chris Williams to the active roster from the practice squad.

Dulin suffered a foot injury during Thursday’s overtime win over the Broncos. The 25-year-old made a name for himself in 2021 after earning a second-team All-Pro nod for his special teams prowess, with Dulin’s 17 special teams tackles ranking second in the NFL. Besides his spot as a gunner, he also started to see a bigger role on offense in 2021, finishing with 13 catches for 173 yards and two scores. Dulin still had a significant role on ST this season, but he continued to be used on offense. Through five games (one start), he’s hauled in 12 catches for 168 yards.

The Colts have plenty of options to replace Dulin on offense, with Alec Pierce, Mike Strachan and Parris Campbell among the candidates to soak up the open snaps. However, as Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star points out, the team will surely miss him on ST; the team has already shuffled through kickers, and both punter Rigoberto Sanchez and fellow ST ace Armani Watts are done for the year.

Williams joined the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Wagner in 2020. He collected four tackles in eight games for Indy last season, and he made his 2022 debut last week against the Broncos.

RFA/ERFA Tender Signings: 4/19/22

Here’s a look at the latest tender signings from around the NFL:

RFAs

Signed:

ERFAs

Signed:

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/11/21

Today’s minor transactions:

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/28/20

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

  • Promoted: QB Reid Sinnett

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Placed on IR: G Sua Opeta

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Colts Promote WR Ashton Dulin

The Colts have elevated wide receiver Ashton Dulin from the practice squad, per a club announcement. The move comes after a week full of missed practices for T.Y. Hilton

Hilton continues to rebound from a quad injury that may keep him from facing the Raiders on Sunday. Enter Dulin, who will provide depth behind Zach Pascal, Deon Cain, Chester Rogers, and Parris Campbell.

Dulin, a Malone University product, gives the Colts five Division-II products on their roster. To make room for him, the Colts have waived cornerback Ryan Lewis.