Full Breakdown
Colts Face Tight Kicker Competition Ahead of Roster Cut Deadline
8/25/2026, 4:15:22 AM
Core Event: Final Week of the Kicker Battle
With less than a week left before the Indianapolis Colts must trim their roster to 53 players, the competition between placekickers Blake Grupe and Spencer Shrader remains unresolved. Only one will be retained for the 2026 season, and the decision is expected by the roster-cut deadline in late August.
Background & Context
Last season the Colts began with Shrader as the starter before a season-ending knee injury in Week 5 forced the team to rely on Grupe, who finished the year without missing a live kick in practice or a game. Shrader returned to camp after rehabilitating an ACL and MCL tear, while Grupe entered the competition in July and has been consistent throughout training camp.
Data & Statistics
- Overall field-goal accuracy in camp: Grupe 86 % vs. Shrader 81 % (public attempts).
- Public-kick percentages: Grupe .872, Shrader .708; including all reps the gap narrows to 86 % vs. 81 %.
- Long-range performance: Shrader connected on a 61-yard field goal against New England and 48- and 53-yard kicks against Atlanta; Grupe’s longest successful attempt was 60 yards set last season.
- Practice misses: Shrader missed a 50-yard and a 54-yard attempt in joint practice; Grupe shanked a 36-yard kick, his first public miss of the preseason.
- Career record: Grupe holds the franchise record with a 60-yard field goal; Shrader’s size (6-foot-2) suggests a higher potential ceiling.
Official Statements & Responses
Special teams coordinator Brian Mason emphasized that the decision will be based on overall performance rather than isolated statistics. He noted the coaches will increase the number of kicks in practice this week to simulate game pressure and will split in-game reps based on each kicker’s performance. Head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard are reviewing the full preseason body of work, including the upcoming game against the Detroit Lions, before making a final call.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have two really good kickers,” — Brian Mason
- “We're going to put pressure on those guys and kick a little bit more this week than we would in a normal game week,” — Brian Mason
What’s Next
The Colts will allocate additional high-pressure kicking drills on Tuesday and Thursday, after which the coaching staff will determine the distribution of game-day reps. The final roster decision is slated for the Sunday preceding the roster-cut deadline, at which point the chosen kicker will begin preparing for the regular season.
