Ashton Dulin flashes at Colts camp and fights for a roster spot

Ashton Dulin has spent seven seasons proving that an NFL role can be built from more than targets. On Sunday, he offered Indianapolis a reminder that his value is not limited to special teams.

The Colts posted a new 17 second training camp video on August 9 showing Dulin finish two difficult catches in traffic. The official Indianapolis video does not settle the receiver depth chart, but it provides current evidence for a veteran whose roster case already begins with speed, coverage value and return ability.

The confirmed conclusion is simple: Dulin made two strong plays at the catch point in the same practice compilation. The Football Nation analysis is that those plays matter because they add receiving upside to one of the clearest special teams profiles on the roster.

What the Colts video confirms

Dulin is identifiable by his white No. 16 practice jersey. On the first rep, he tracks a high ball with a defender attached, extends above the contact and secures it before both players go to the ground. The second angle shows him attack another elevated pass between converging defenders and finish the catch through the collision.

Neither clip reveals the full play call, coverage or quarterback decision, so it would be wrong to turn the video into a sweeping claim about the offense. What the pictures do show is a receiver winning with timing, length and concentration when the catch window is crowded.

The player context is established by the official Colts roster page. Dulin is a 6 foot 2, 215 pound receiver entering his eighth NFL season. He caught five passes for 106 yards in 2025, an average of 21.2 yards per reception, and owns 40 catches for 623 yards and four touchdowns across his career.

Indianapolis has also documented the other half of his résumé. When the Colts announced Dulin's 2026 conference Hall of Fame honor, the club described him as a key special teams contributor and a receiver depth piece. Dulin earned second team AP All Pro recognition on special teams in 2021.

Football Nation analysis: why two catches carry roster value

Training camp highlights are easy to overrate because the public rarely sees the unsuccessful reps surrounding them. Two completions cannot prove that Dulin has climbed the receiver order. They can show that he is converting opportunities in the part of the job that creates separation between similar roster candidates.

Dulin's established floor is unusual for a depth receiver. A player who can cover kicks, return them and handle multiple special teams assignments does not need a large offensive package to justify a game day uniform. Every dependable receiving rep raises the ceiling above that floor.

The two catches also fit his physical profile. At 6 foot 2, Dulin can attack a pass above smaller defensive backs. His career production suggests a vertical specialist more than a volume receiver: his official 2025 average was above 21 yards per catch, and nine of his 40 career receptions have gained at least 20 yards.

Dulin said during official June media availability that he was competing for increased receiver reps while remaining confident in his ability to contribute on offense and special teams. Sunday's video is consistent with that goal. It is evidence of progress, not proof that the competition is finished.

Where Dulin fits in the Colts receiver competition

Indianapolis does not need Dulin to become a target dominant starter. It needs him to make his limited offensive snaps valuable. That can mean clearing space vertically, handling an occasional manufactured touch, blocking on the perimeter or converting a contested chance when coverage squeezes the sideline.

That role becomes more useful when roster math gets tight. A receiver who plays only offense may need to be clearly better as a route runner or separator. Dulin can survive a close decision by filling more columns on the weekly game plan. The contested catches strengthen his case precisely because his coverage and return credentials are already known.

Football Nation's Colts training camp report framed the offense around stability while Indianapolis evaluates its quarterback situation. A veteran who understands multiple jobs can help preserve that stability, especially when backup units and preseason lineups change quickly.

The same roster principle appears across the league. Football Nation's special teams roster bubble analysis explains why reserve players are rarely judged by one position alone. Dulin is a useful Indianapolis example of that rule working in a veteran's favor.

What to watch next

The Colts' official 2026 camp schedule lists another public practice on August 15, followed by joint practices with Atlanta on August 19 and 20. Those sessions should produce more revealing evidence because unfamiliar defenders can test releases, route detail and catch point strength.

Watch whether Dulin continues to receive vertical opportunities, whether he works with more than one quarterback group and whether he remains central to coverage and return periods. Preseason offensive snaps will matter, but special teams assignments may tell even more about his final roster standing.

For now, the most defensible reading is narrow. Dulin made two impressive contested catches, adding a fresh receiving argument to a roster case already grounded in special teams. The Colts' latest Grand Park report captured the setting of this final camp era. Dulin's job is to keep turning that setting into evidence before the roster decisions arrive.