Ashton Dulin took one of the hardest hits of his seven-year career Sunday afternoon.
Near the end of the second quarter of the Colts' game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Dulin ran a route that took him down the Raiders' sideline about 19 yards past the line of scrimmage, where he turned and leapt up to grab the well-placed pass from Daniel Jones. But as he came back to the turf, Dulin was quickly and forcefully pushed out of bounds by Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn.
Dulin took the full force of the hit, flying into the ground and rolling a few feet into the sideline. But as the referee quickly motioned for an incomplete pass, Dulin simply popped right back up and jogged back to his spot for the next play.
He didn't miss a beat.
Dulin did a similar thing in the first quarter too; after running full speed down the field for what would have been a 98-yard kick-return touchdown if not for an offensive holding penalty, Dulin missed just one snap before getting back on the field, ready to block or run or do whatever else he needed to do. He barely looked out of breath.
In those two plays alone, Dulin showed exactly what kind of player he is – and why the Colts value him so much.
"He's as gritty as they come," head coach Shane Steichen said after the Colts' 40-6 win. "He's as tough as they come, and he does anything that's asked. And he understands his role."
In his seven years with the Colts Dulin has carved out his spot as a special teams ace, earning multiple contracts and heaps of praise for his physicality, determination and willingness to do anything he's asked. He's proven to be a highly effective player on both special teams and as a wide receiver, because he knows how to take advantage of any opportunity he's given.
View the best photos from the Colts' 40-6 win vs the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
DT DeForest Buckner #99
G Tanor Bortolini #60 and LB Zaire Franklin #44
LB Austin Ajiake #58
DE Laiatu Latu #97 and DE Tyquan Lewis #94
OL Braden Smith #72, OL Matt Goncalves #71 and QB Daniel Jones #17
S Nick Cross #20, WR Ashton Dulin #16 and LB Austin Ajiake #58
LB Austin Ajiake #58
CB Charvarius Ward #7
DE Kwity Paye #51
DE Tyquan Lewis #94
DE Tyquan Lewis #94
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Ashton Dulin #16
DL Tyquan Lewis #94
DL Tyquan Lewis #94 and LB Zaire Franklin #44
QB Daniel Jones #17
DL DeForest Buckner #99, DL Tyquan Lewis #94, DL Neville Gallimore #92, LB Zaire Franklin #44 and DL Kwity Paye #51
DL DeForest Buckner #99, DL Tyquan Lewis #94 and LB Zaire Franklin #44
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
WR Ashton Dulin #16
TE Tyler Warren #84 and WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
T Bernhard Raimann #79
WR Josh Downs #1
WR Josh Downs #1
WR Josh Downs #1
WR Josh Downs #1
WR Josh Downs #1
WR Josh Downs #1
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Will Mallory #86, TE Tyler Warren #84 and WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11 and TE Tyler Warren #84
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11, G Tanor Bortolini #60 and TE Tyler Warren #84
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11, G Tanor Bortolini #60 and TE Tyler Warren #84
QB Daniel Jones #17
OL Braden Smith #72, WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11, G Matt Goncalves #71, G Tanor Bortolini #60 and T Bernhard Raimann #79
QB Daniel Jones #17
G Tanor Bortolini #60, G Quenton Nelson #56 and T Bernhard Raimann #79
WR Josh Downs #1
DT Neville Gallimore #92 and DE Samson Ebukam #52
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
TE Tyler Warren #84
WR Josh Downs #1, G Matt Goncalves #71, OL Tanor Bortolini #60, TE Tyler Warren #84 and WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
QB Daniel Jones #17, T Bernhard Raimann #79 and G Quenton Nelson #56
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
DL Tyquan Lewis #94
CB Charvarius Ward #7
DL Tyquan Lewis #94
S Camryn Bynum #0
DT DeForest Buckner #99 and S Camryn Bynum #0
CB Johnathan Edwards #35
CB Johnathan Edwards #35
LB Segun Olubi #50
LB Segun Olubi #50
LB Segun Olubi #50 and CB Chris Lammons #38
LB Zaire Franklin #44 and LB Segun Olubi #50
LB Zaire Franklin #44, LB Segun Olubi #50, S Camryn Bynum #0 and WR Anthony Gould #6
DE Laiatu Latu #97
LB Joe Bachie #48 and LB Zaire Franklin #44
G Quenton Nelson #56
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
S Camryn Bynum #0
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DT Grover Stewart #90, DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DE Kwity Paye #51
LB Zaire Franklin #44, DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DE Laiatu Latu #97
DE Laiatu Latu #97 and DT DeForest Buckner #99
DE Laiatu Latu #97
CB Johnathan Edwards #35, DT Grover Stewart #90, DT DeForest Buckner #99, DT Neville Gallimore #92, DE Kwity Paye #51, DE Laiatu Latu #97 and S Rodney Thomas II #25
CB Johnathan Edwards #35, DT Grover Stewart #90, DE Laiatu Latu #97, DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DE Kwity Paye #51
CB Johnathan Edwards #35, DE Laiatu Latu #97, DT DeForest Buckner #99, DT Neville Gallimore #92 and DE Kwity Paye #51
DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DE Laiatu Latu #97
LB Zaire Franklin #44, DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DE Laiatu Latu #97
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
DL Grover Stewart #90
DE Laiatu Latu #97
CB Chris Lammons #38, DL Grover Stewart #90, DL Laiatu Latu #97, S Camryn Bynum #0 and DL DeForest Buckner #99
G Tanor Bortolini #60, G Quenton Nelson #56 and T Bernhard Raimann #79
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Ashton Dulin #16
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
WR Josh Downs #1
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
Shane Steichen Head Coach
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
CB Chris Lammons #38, DT Grover Stewart #90 and CB Charvarius Ward #7
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
G Quenton Nelson #56, T Braden Smith #72 and QB Daniel Jones #17
G Matt Goncalves #71, C Tanor Bortolini #60, T Braden Smith #72 and QB Daniel Jones #17
CB Chris Lammons #38
CB Charvarius Ward #7
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
G Quenton Nelson #56, T Bernhard Raimann #79, QB Daniel Jones #17, RB Jonathan Taylor #28, WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11 and DT Adetomiwa Adebawore #95
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29 and TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
G Tanor Bortolini #60, RB Jonathan Taylor #28, G Matt Goncalves #71 and G Quenton Nelson #56
WR Josh Downs #1
T Jalen Travis #75
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
CB Charvarius Ward #7, CB Mekhi Blackmon #29 and S Rodney Thomas II #25
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
CB Kenny Moore II #23 and CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and QB Daniel Jones #17
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
G Matt Goncalves #71, T Bernhard Raimann #79 and G Quenton Nelson #56
QB Daniel Jones #17
T Braden Smith #72, RB Ameer Abdullah #26 and OL Quenton Nelson #56
RB Ameer Abdullah #26
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29 and LB Zaire Franklin #44
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
OL Quenton Nelson #56 and RB Ameer Abdullah #26
OL Quenton Nelson #56, RB Ameer Abdullah #26 and OL Matt Goncalves #71
DT Grover Stewart #90, S Camryn Bynum #0 and CB Charvarius Ward #7
LB Zaire Franklin #44, CB Chris Lammons #38 and S Camryn Bynum #0
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29 and LB Zaire Franklin #44
WR Ashton Dulin #16, T Blake Freeland #73 and S Camryn Bynum #0
LB Zaire Franklin #44
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
G Quenton Nelson #56 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28, G Quenton Nelson #56 and G Tanor Bortolini #60
S Camryn Bynum #0
DT Grover Stewart #90 and LB Zaire Franklin #44
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
LB Zaire Franklin #44 and S Camryn Bynum #0
LB Zaire Franklin #44 and LB Segun Olubi #50
LB Zaire Franklin #44
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Ashton Dulin #16 and TE Tyler Warren #84
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
OL Tanor Bortolini #60 and RB Jonathan Taylor #28
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81, OL Bernhard Raimann #79, OL Tanor Bortolini #60, RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and OL Quenton Nelson #56
CB Charvarius Ward #7
S Camryn Bynum #0 and S Nick Cross #20
LB Zaire Franklin #44
DE Kwity Paye #51 and LB Zaire Franklin #44
S Camryn Bynum #0 and S Nick Cross #20
QB Anthony Richardson #5
LB Zaire Franklin #44 and DT Neville Gallimore #92
CB Chris Lammons #38
CB Chris Lammons #38
QB Anthony Richardson #5
RB DJ Giddens #21
LB Chad Muma #55
DE JT Tuimoloau #91
With wide receiver Alec Pierce sidelined with a concussion on Sunday, Dulin saw his snap count increase significantly, playing 47 of 66 total offensive snaps and 15 out of 25 special teams snaps. His 47 offensive snaps were a career-high, but you wouldn't know it based off both the ease with which he operated in the offense and the energy he played with every single snap.
Why? Because Dulin was always going to be ready for his opportunity, whenever it came.
"Week in and week out, I'm always preparing as a starter," he said. "For me, it's knowing that (I'm) staying ready so I don't have to get ready. When it comes down to it, I'm always watching film of everything that needs to be watched – special teams, offense. So, if my number gets called, I'm gonna be ready."
Dulin finished with a team-high 55 receiving yards on two receptions, including a 35-yard reception that set up Jonathan Taylor's third touchdown of the day.
"I'm so freaking happy for him," wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said. "He does so much dirty work here, he kind of flies under the radar but when he gets his chance, he's always making plays. Just seeing him do that and get some shine, it's awesome. He really busts his ass every single day. He's giving effort, he does everything right."
And on the snaps Dulin didn't catch the football, he was either running a route to distract the Raiders defense or standing strong and blocking for one of his teammates; it's that kind of versatility that Dulin prides himself on more than anything.
"It's big just to be versatile as a receiver, be reliable for your quarterback when he needs you," Dulin said. "First down, third downs, whatever, so I'm just trying to be that guy."
"Hats off to him," Steichen said. "Just a tremendous worker is what he is."
