Brian Mason has never been shy in his views of Ashton Dulin's performance on special teams, calling the 29-year-old receiver veteran "one of the three-best special teams players in the NFL" last fall.
How much the Colts will be able to take advantage of those skills – on his most active days, Indianapolis uses his 4.4 speed as its primary gunner on punt coverage, as well as one of its two returners on kickoffs – may vary week-to-week, depending on the team's health across the board.
After last week's signing of six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen, Dulin finds himself no longer in contention for one of the Colts' three starting wideout spots. Instead he's jockeying with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for fourth on the depth chart on a team whose star second-year tight end Tyler Warren makes Dulin or Westbrook-Ikhine the fifth receiving option at-best.
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Dulin has performed arguably the most consistently of Indianapolis' rotational wideouts in the preseason, all while taking very few reps on special teams. It gave the appearance the Colts planned to significantly reduce his role on punt and kick teams to preserve his energy and impact for offense. But with Allen's signing dropping Dulin a spot, the receiver who has just seven catches since the end of the 2022 campaign finds himself in virtually the same spot as the end of last season.

#ikhine #year

Another veteran receiver who had been available for months in free agency has found a new home.
Via Jordan Schultz, Keenan Allen has agreed to terms with the Colts. It's reportedly a one-year deal worth up to $8.32 million.
A third-round pick in 2013, Allen has played for the Chargers for 11 years, the Bears for one year, and the Chargers again in 2025. He has 1,055 career regular-season catches for 12,051 yards and 70 touchdowns.
Allen finished second in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, and he has made it to the Pro Bowl six times — most recently in 2023.
He joins a depth chart that includes Alec Pierce (who remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list with an ankle injury), Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Anthony Gould, and Laquon Treadwell.

#chargers #keenan #offensive #rookie

The Colts are expected to sign longtime Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, a source confirmed to IndyStar. It adds a six-time Pro Bowler who in eight of his 13 seasons in the NFL has caught at least six touchdowns and at least 80 ***** seven times – including last year.
Allen lands in Indianapolis after a one-season return to Los Angeles in 2025 to rejoin the franchise that drafted him 76th overall in 2013 and where he spent the first 11 seasons of his career – and 12 of 13 overall. Allen was traded to the Chicago Bears in March of 2024 and played a single season with the NFC North team before opting to sign with the Chargers just over a year ago during Los Angeles' training camp as a free agent.
That one-year deal made the 34-year-old again a free agent this spring, and he remains unquestionably the top free agent wideout on the market – not to mention seemingly a premier fit in head coach Shane Steichen's offense.
For a coach who prizes separation at the top of routes and a trusted pair of hands above just about anything else, Allen still fits the bill as he nears the end of his career. Though he's been one nearly his entire career, the Colts don't need Allen to be a No. 1 receiver with unquestioned WR1 Alec Pierce ascending to a more all-around this role this year coming off a season where then-rookie tight end Tyler Warren led the Colts in targets (112) and two seasons ago when starting slot receiver Josh Downs led the team in receptions (72).
But after the loss of Michael Pittman Jr. in March to a salary-dump trade to the Steelers, it was widely-believed the Colts had not done enough to replace not only his production – 80 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns – but his veteran leadership and presence in a room where the oldest players – free agent signee Nick Westbrooke-Ikhine (29 years old), Ashton Dulin (29) and Laquon Treadwell (31) had been fighting in training camp for the Nos. 3 and 4 WR spots in the Colts offense.

#free #receiver #seasons

The Colts have not had Alec Pierce on the practice field at all this summer and they were missing another wideout at practice on Saturday.
Josh Downs did not take part in the session and the Colts said that he is dealing with a groin injury. They did not offer further information about the extent of the injury or how long Downs might be out of action.
Pierce is on the physically unable to perform list after having ankle surgery this offseason and head coach Shane Steichen said earlier this week that there's no timetable for his return.
Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Anthony Gould worked as the first team wideouts for the Colts on Saturday.

#injury

The Indianapolis Colts don't have the NFL's most formidable wide receiver corps.
The Colts traded Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason and signed Alec Pierce to a lucrative contract extension. The rest of the expected regulars include Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Laquon Treadwell, and draft pick Deion Burks.
Downs (58) and Pierce (47) combined for 105 catches in the 2025 season, and the rest 18 (including Westbrook-Ikhine's 11 for Miami).
Should the Colts trade for a speedy receiver? ESPN's Seth Walder believes the Buffalo Bills' Keon Coleman would fit in Indianapolis and ease an awkward situation in Buffalo. It's one of his five preseason trade proposals.
Coleman, the first pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has 67 receptions and eight touchdowns in two seasons. In January, Bills owner Terry Pegula criticized the previous coaching staff for pushing the front office to pick Coleman, who remains on the Buffalo roster.

#colts #pierce

With Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh, the door is open for Alec Pierce and Josh Downs in Indy. So why are they undervalued in fantasy?
One reason is probably Daniel Jones, who's been recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. But with Jones's Week 1 availability looking promising, the fantasy market should not be penalizing two receivers with strong top-40 potential and decent top-30 upside. Pittman's 111 targets from last season are now up for grabs. Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and rookie Deion Burks probably won't play outsized #3 WR roles.
Sure, budding star Tyler Warren will command a high target share. But last year he led the team with 112 looks. He might top out at around 130. In other words, there are a lot more targets to go around, and only a small handful of receivers are likely to get them.
Pierce's WR35 ADP **** umes last year was a fluke, when he was the WR27 in points per game. That doesn't make sense. Pierce was more productive with 84 targets than Pittman was with 32% more targets. We should expect Pierce to take another step forward on 100+ looks.
Meanwhile, Downs is only two years removed from being the WR31 in points per game. Still somehow only 24 years old, he's a great bet to bounce back as the Colts' co-#1 or even #2 wideout. Downs should far exceed his WR46 ADP expectations.

#downs #targets #fantasy

Entering the second week of training camp practices, the Indianapolis Colts are still without wide receiver Alec Pierce.
Pierce is still rehabbing from offseason ankle surgery. Shane Steichen didn't have any specifics about when Pierce could return but did say that he is progressing.
"I know that he's working," Steichen said. "He's heading in the right direction, for sure. So I feel really good about that moving forward."
Prior to training camp start, GM Chris Ballard said that Pierce was "close" and could be back on the field in a week or two.
Without Pierce in the lineup, Ashton Dulin and Laquon Treadwell have taken the bulk of the outside wide receiver reps with the starters. The two, along with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, are competing for the WR3 role.

#still #entering

During the Indianapolis Colts' third training camp practice on Friday, there were some noteworthy developments at a pair of positional battles taking place.
The first came at wide receiver, where, most notably, the WR3 role is up for grabs. Emerging on Friday was Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, a free agent signee by the Colts.
According to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan, Westbrook-Ikhine hauled in two completions, including an "underthrown deep ball" from Daniel Jones. His second reception came with Sauce Gardner in coverage.
The Indy Star's Joel Erickson wrote that Westbrook-Ikhine "has made the most of his plays" through three training camp practices, using his size to his advantage. Erickson added that this was the first "big day" for any player in the WR3 competition.
Competing for this spot on the depth chart are primarily DJ Giddens and Seth McGowan. For Giddens, however, it's been a ****** py start, with him dropping a pass on Friday -- something that's occurred one other time in three practices as well.

#Friday #ikhine #colts #camp

I never thought it would be so simple, but, I found a way. I found a way.
When Indianapolis Colts principal owner Carly Irsay-Gordon stood before the team early in training camp, her message wasn't complicated. Find a way.
The phrase couldn't escape her mind as she was speaking to the team. Find a way to make the roster. Find a way to make the play when it matters most. Find a way to fly through the turbulence, through adversity. Ultimately, the goal is to find a way back to the playoffs.
Three practices into training camp at Grand Park, that mantra continues to echo across thre practice field as players try to climb their way up the depth chart. For some veterans, finding a way means stepping into a larger role. For young players and rookies, it means simply proving they belong. Friday's practice featured prime examples of both.
Wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is looking to carve out a significant role after signing with Indianapolis in March. With the Colts trading away Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason, the veteran receiver has been presented with an opportunity to earn the third starting spot. On Friday, Westbrook-Ikhine spent extensive time working with both the first- and second-team offense and rewarded all three quarterbacks who looked in his direction.

#indianapolis #westbrook

Every player wants to hit the ground running and start the new season fast once training camp begins. But for which Indianapolis Colts players is this a must?
The reasons a strong training camp showing is vital can vary from player to player, but all three of these offensive players require a quick start once practices begin.
Treadwell finds himself in the mix for the starting WR3 role, competing with Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. But even if Treadwell doesn't secure that job, he is still positioned to make a run at earning a spot on the 53-man roster.
Up to this point in his Colts' tenure, Treadwell has spent his share of time on the practice squad. But with the wide receiver depth taking a hit this offseason, his experience -- both in the NFL and in Shane Steichen's offense -- could be quite valuable. The Colts could also utilize more of a rotation at that WR3 spot, with matchups and in-game situations dictating who is on the field, which could provide Treadwell with another opportunity to earn playing time.
He's also shown he can contribute to multiple special teams phases as well, which will factor into the equation as Steichen and Chris Ballard construct the final roster.

#roster

The Miami Dolphins moved on from Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine this offseason, leaving their wide receiver room rather light, young and inexperienced heading into 2026.
With four rookies (three drafted and one undrafted) joining the position group over the last few months, there's a need for someone to step up and take over as a leader among the wideouts.
According to third-round pick Caleb Douglas, the first of three wide receivers that Miami took in the 2026 NFL draft, there's one veteran who's really showing off leadership qualities before training camp even starts.
"The guys that's for sure been there, Malik. Malik Washington for sure," Douglas said on "The Dive Bar" podcast. "Going out there, being in the system every day, especially in the minicamp, OTAs. Going out there and making plays and really just allowing us to be a sponge to him. He's allowing us to ask him questions. 'Hey, why did you do this? Why did you do that? How did you do this? How did you do that?' Really just being receptive to all of the questions, and things like that. I feel Malik Washington is gonna have a year, for sure."
Washington is just 25 years old and is entering his third year in the NFL, but he's the longest-tenured player in the room. While he's still growing and learning in his own right, he's taking some of these younger guys under his wing because of his familiarity with the system.

Training camp for the Indianapolis Colts kicks off in about a month, so as part of our preview of what's to come, we will be evaluating each positional battle that is expected to unfold.
What took place during offseason programs laid the foundation for each of these competitions and provided us with some insights into where things may stand. That said, how training camp and the preseason unfold will ultimately determine who wins these roles.
Next up is the wide receiver position.
With Michael Pittman in Pittsburgh, a starting spot alongside of Alec Pierce and Josh Downs is up for grabs. In the mix for that playing time are Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell, Deion Burks, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
The consensus seems to be that Dulin is the front-runner for this role.

This offseason has marked a stark contrast to years past, because there are a number of starting positions up for grabs regarding the Indianapolis Colts–whereas typically, there’s usually only been one or two under general manager Chris Ballard, who’s admittedly wanted more open competition throughout his entire roster.
The Colts didn’t make a ton of external noise this offseason, as their biggest moves were re-signing both starting quarterback Daniel Jones and lead wide receiver Alec Pierce to lucrative multi-year deals, as well as trading a pair of longtime veteran pillars to other NFL teams: Michael Pittman Jr. (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Zaire Franklin (Green Bay Packers).
However, there was one under-the-radar veteran pickup at wide receiver, which it’s worth highlighting here, the Colts starting outside WR2 position opposite Pierce is currently up for grabs.
The 29-year-old former Indiana University standout was signed to a modest 1-year, $1.402M deal, as he looks to rebound from a quiet sole season with the Miami Dolphins in 2025.
Specifically, Westbrook-Ikhine caught just 11 receptions for 89 total receiving starts during 15 games (3 starts) this past season for the Dolphins before being released in mid-February of this year.

NFL ****** yst says Dolphins rookie WR will be a 'nightmare' for defenses

The Miami Dolphins attacked their wide receiver room this offseason after releasing Tyreek Hill and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and then trading Jaylen Waddle.
While Miami added a trio of veterans in free agency (Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert and Terrace Marshall Jr.), they left the 2026 NFL draft with three rookies, including Kevin Coleman Jr. in the fifth round.
While Coleman was the third receiver prospect that the Dolphins took in the draft, he can still present problems for opposing defenses.
“You’ve just got to get the ball in his hands; after that, he’s a nightmare,” ESPN's Louis Riddick recently said about Coleman. “He can track the ball, has a quick change of direction and then turns on the afterburners. Look at his open-field running skills. Miami will be very happy when they get Coleman on the field.”
In four collegiate seasons between Jackson State, Louisville, Mississippi State and Missouri, Coleman caught 199 passes for 2,536 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also returned 62 punts and 19 kicks.

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