INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Indianapolis Colts are in offseason program mode.
In fact, OTAs will take place later this month.
There are many position battles that fans will be following as the team gears up for the 2026 season. One of those battles is the battle to be the team’s starting kicker.
The two players looking to earn the starting job are Spencer Shrader and Blake Grupe.
Shrader was the team’s starting kicker at the start of the 2025 season and did well. He was 13-of-14 on his field goal attempts before suffering a season-ending injury in week five against the Raiders, when he tore his ACL and MCL.
“Recovery’s been great so far,” Shrader told News 8 Sports’ Andrew Chernoff on Saturday. “I’m six months post-surgery at this point and feeling really good. (I’m) back to running and lifting and kicking. So, it’s just about getting one percent better every, single day from here.”
Following Shrader’s injury last year, the Colts signed Michael Badgley. Badgley struggled on his extra point attempts, going just 18-of-21 on PATs, which led to the team waiving the kicker before the end of the season.
That’s when the Colts then brought in Blake Grupe. Grupe finished the year strong, making all 11 of his field goal attempts. In March, Grupe and the Colts agreed to a one-year deal.
That signing sets up a battle between Grupe and Shrader to be the team’s starting kicker this season.
“He’s (Grupe) a good friend of mine,” Shrader said. “You want the best for each other. And you know in the NFL, it’s a hyper-competitive environment. So, I don’t even really see it as like competing with him. You both know that if you do really well and execute to the best of your abilities, there’s a great situation then for both of you. So, just excited to compete with him, stay buddies with him through the whole process and then see what happens.”
Shrader and Grupe each kicked at Notre Dame. Shrader played for the Fighting Irish during the 2023 season, while Grupe played for the Fighting Irish during the 2022 season.
