Colts Sign Michael Badgley to Replace Injured Kicker Spencer Shrader
The Indianapolis Colts may have come out on top against the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday, but the win came at a cost. Rookie kicker Spencer Shrader suffered a torn ACL and MCL, sidelining him for the rest of the season.
To fill the gap, the Colts have signed veteran kicker Michael Badgley, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Badgley, who previously played for Indianapolis in 2021, is healthy again after missing last season due to injury.
Head coach Shane Steichen admitted after the game that the injury didn’t look promising. “It doesn’t look good, but I don’t have the full update,” he said at the time.
Badgley Brings NFL Experience
This isn’t Badgley’s first time in the league. He began his career with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018 and spent three seasons there. He joined the Colts in 2021 when Rodrigo Blankenship was injured, appearing in 12 games and going 18-of-21 on field goals and a perfect 39-for-39 on extra points.
Over his career, Badgley has made 52 of 65 field goal attempts with the Chargers, including a 59-yarder — his career long.
Tough Break for a Promising Rookie
Shrader was having an impressive debut season before the injury. In five games, he made 13 of 14 field goal attempts (92.9%) and all 14 extra points. He had also earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors in September.
Reflecting on the award, Shrader shared how much it meant to celebrate the moment with teammates long snapper Luke Rhodes and punter Rigoberto Sanchez. “Their reaction was awesome,” he said. “They were just so excited and so happy. It made me feel good to bring those guys joy.”
While Shrader’s injury is a tough loss, the Colts are hoping Badgley can step in and keep the momentum going — especially if the team continues to dominate as they did against the Raiders.
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