INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Second-year Colts kicker Spencer Shrader has dealt with a fair share of setbacks during his two years on the Colts roster. Shrader opened last season as the Colts’ starting kicker, went 13-for-14 on field goals to start the year, and looked headed for his best NFL se ason. That was until Week 5, when the Colts hosted the Raiders. In the second quarter, Shrader went on to kick an extra point, but was hit awkwardly on his right leg by Raiders safety Tristin McCollum. As a result, Shrader tore both his ACL and MCL in his right knee and was sidelined for the rest of the season. Fast forward to this year, and Shrader was in a kicking battle with Blake Grupe during the preseason. By the end of three preseason games, Shrader was a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals, including two from 60 yards or more. With less than two weeks until Week 1, Shrader beat out Grupe and was named the Colts’ starting kicker for the 2026–27 season. “It was a crazy preseason,” Shrader said. “I think it was one of the most mentally challenging battles that I’ve been through. It was really good for me. When I think about this situation, I feel glad for Blake [Grupe] too because I feel like both of us earned that. It was all that I could do to keep up with him during fall camp. He was kicking at such a high level, and it continually reminded me to compete against myself every single day.” After weeks of competition and worries about which direction the Colts would go, Shrader described how good it felt to finally hear the good news. “Literally, it came down to the wire,” Shrader said. “I had no idea what was going to happen when they made the final decision. I really tried to emotionally prepare myself for whatever the outcome was going to be. Mase [Brian Mason] calls me and tells me I’m going to be starting for the Colts, and I was like, ‘okay.’ And he was like, ‘That’s it? ‘ That’s your reaction?’ I’m like, ‘Well, no, I’m incredibly grateful and blessed.’ It took a while for that to set in, for it to feel real.” As the pressure mounted during training camp and through the preseason, Shrader opened up about how he remained calm and focused on getting better one day at a time. “I have a really good support system around me,” Shrader said. “It’s always hard during camp because it’s twelve, thirteen hours a day of football. You only have so much mental capacity. When you’re filling your mind with football and performance and comparison for so long, it does wear on you. I really had to focus on stoicism, reading books, praying, trying to bring myself out of that mindset.” Shrader and the Indianapolis Colts begin Week 1 of the season on Sunday, September 13th against the Baltimore Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium. ...read more read less