Indianapolis Colts’ Roster in Flux: Ashton Dulin To IR, Familiar Face George Odum Returns
Just when you think the Colts’ injury rollercoaster couldn’t get any loopier, the football gods laugh and add another twist. On Tuesday, the team made a move that felt like a gut punch, placing wide receiver and special teams demon Ashton Dulin on Injured Reserve. If you heard a collective groan from the special teams coaching staff, that’s why.
Dulin, the man Special Teams Coordinator Brian Mason recently called “one of the three best special teams players in the NFL,” went down with a hamstring injury during the heartbreaking 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Dulin is the kind of player who doesn’t just fill a spot; he elevates it. He’s the Swiss Army knife every coach dreams of, a “total package” player who brings the heat whether he’s catching passes, returning kicks, or hunting down returners like a heat-seeking missile.
Losing him for at least the next four games feels like taking a key piece out of the engine right before a big race. This season, he’s been a sparkplug, averaging nearly 30 yards per kick return, including a 50-yarder that had fans leaping out of their seats. His presence will be sorely missed, and the team will be counting the days until he’s eligible to return for the Week 17 clash against the Jaguars.
Who’s Next Up For the Colts?
But as one door closes, another one swings open, and a familiar face is stepping through. Welcome back, George Odum! The safety, who was a fan favorite and an All-Pro special teamer for the Colts from 2018-21, has been signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. It’s a classic “break glass in case of emergency” move, and the emergency is now.
Odum isn’t just a fill-in; he’s a proven commodity. Since 2018, the guy has been a tackling machine, ranking third in the entire league in special teams stops. In 2020, he was an absolute monster, leading the Colts with 20 special teams tackles. Bringing him back feels less like a signing and more like a homecoming. After a stint with the 49ers, he’s back in the blue and white, and you have to believe he’s chomping at the bit to make an impact.
In a corresponding move, the Colts also brought back Cornerback Cameron Mitchell to the practice squad. Mitchell has been doing the roster hokey pokey this season—on the active roster, then off, then back to the practice squad. It’s the unglamorous life of an NFL player trying to stick, and he gets another shot to prove his worth.
Navigating the Injury Minefield
This all comes as the Colts stare down a crucial AFC South matchup against the Houston Texans. Both teams are limping into Week 13. Colts QB Daniel Jones, while insisting his leg injury wasn’t a factor against the Chiefs, looked like he was running through mud on a 13-yard scramble. You can be tough as nails, but a leg injury for a mobile quarterback is like a sports car with a flat tire—it just doesn’t run the same.
Meanwhile, the Texans might be getting their own signal-caller, C.J. Stroud, back from a concussion. After missing three games, his return could be a major momentum shifter. It’s a classic battle of attrition, and with the Colts’ injury list looking longer than a CVS receipt, guys like Odum will need to step up immediately.
The loss of Dulin stings; there’s no sugarcoating it. But the return of Odum adds a layer of veteran grit and familiarity. As the Colts navigate this injury-plagued stretch, they’re going to need every ounce of it. It’s next man up, and for the Colts, the next man up is a guy who’s been there and done that. Let’s hope it’s enough.
