The Indianapolis Colts are going to be shorthanded at the receiver position on Sunday against New England.
On Friday’s final injury report, the team ruled out Josh Downs as well as Ashton Dulin. For more on Downs, click here.
Dulin would exit this past Sunday’s game with an ankle injury. He did not practice at all during the week.
Most weeks snap count-wise, Dulin has been the team’s fourth wide receiver, often out-snapping rookie AD Mitchell.
Dulin has caught only 2-of-8 targets for 67 yard, but one was a 54 yard touchdown catch and run in the team’s season opener against Houston.
The Colts have gotten Dulin involved in the run game as well, both as a ball carrier, with five rushes for 45 yards, and as a blocker.
In addition to his contributions on offense, Dulin is a core special teams contributor, handling flier duties on the punt coverage unit, along with being a kick returner, averaging nearly 40 yards per return on three attempts.
With both Downs and Dulin out, the return units for the Colts will take a hit on Sunday as well. Tyler Goodson and rookie Anthony Gould could be tasked with filling in.
As far as the offense goes, Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman, as they regularly do, will shoulder the workload at the boundary receiver position. AD Mitchell will be mixed in as well, but he could also be tasked with lining up from the slot some in Downs’ absence in what I would guess is a by-committee approach to fill that void.
The Colts will be up against a Patriots’ secondary that has surrendered some yards this season, ranking 26th in yards per attempt, along with allowing the 10th most explosive passing plays.