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The Colts are poised to have serious training camp competition this summer.
The franchise has signed placekicker Blake Grupe, who joined the team midseason and finished a perfect 21-for-21 combined on field goals and extra points, to a one-year deal, multiple league sources confirmed to IndyStar on Sunday. Grupe was signed ahead of Indianapolis' Week 14 matchup in Jacksonville -- after the Colts waived its first midseason stand-in Michael Badgley -- and nailed all 11 of his field goals, including a perfect 4-for-4 on kicks from 50-plus and a franchise-long 60-yarder in Seattle.
The move gives the team two legitimate options at placekicker, the type of good problem the franchise hasn't typically had of late. After years of sifting through numerous options at placekicker, the Colts made a decisive move last offseason, parting ways with veteran Matt Gay just two years into a four-year deal as general manager Chris Ballard put his trust in Spencer Shrader, who made his career debut in 2024 with the Colts and kicked for three different teams around the league before making his way back to Indianapolis.
Shrader, who boasts a uber-strong leg, started the 2025 season with the Colts 13-for-14 on field goals, including a long of 52 yards, but a late hit by Raiders safety Tristin McCollum in Week 5 tore the ACL and MCL in the 26-year-old's right knee, ending his season and putting him on a long road to recovery that's rare for kickers to face. The Colts immediately brought in Michael Badgley, who went 10-for-11 on field goals but missed three PATs in seven games, leading to his exit.
At the time, Grupe had missed a league-high eight kicks in 2025 for the Saints before he was waived following Week 12, but he was brought in to link back up with his college special teams coach Brian Mason, the Colts special teams coordinator, and immediately found a rhythm with one of the best special teams units in the league.
According to a league source, the Colts plan to retain Shrader this offseason heading into training camp, as he enters the final season of his two-year deal signed last spring -- which includes a $1.2 million base salary that isn't guaranteed.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts re-sign kicker Blake Grupe, setting up training camp battle with Spencer Shrader
Continue reading...
The franchise has signed placekicker Blake Grupe, who joined the team midseason and finished a perfect 21-for-21 combined on field goals and extra points, to a one-year deal, multiple league sources confirmed to IndyStar on Sunday. Grupe was signed ahead of Indianapolis' Week 14 matchup in Jacksonville -- after the Colts waived its first midseason stand-in Michael Badgley -- and nailed all 11 of his field goals, including a perfect 4-for-4 on kicks from 50-plus and a franchise-long 60-yarder in Seattle.
The move gives the team two legitimate options at placekicker, the type of good problem the franchise hasn't typically had of late. After years of sifting through numerous options at placekicker, the Colts made a decisive move last offseason, parting ways with veteran Matt Gay just two years into a four-year deal as general manager Chris Ballard put his trust in Spencer Shrader, who made his career debut in 2024 with the Colts and kicked for three different teams around the league before making his way back to Indianapolis.
Shrader, who boasts a uber-strong leg, started the 2025 season with the Colts 13-for-14 on field goals, including a long of 52 yards, but a late hit by Raiders safety Tristin McCollum in Week 5 tore the ACL and MCL in the 26-year-old's right knee, ending his season and putting him on a long road to recovery that's rare for kickers to face. The Colts immediately brought in Michael Badgley, who went 10-for-11 on field goals but missed three PATs in seven games, leading to his exit.
At the time, Grupe had missed a league-high eight kicks in 2025 for the Saints before he was waived following Week 12, but he was brought in to link back up with his college special teams coach Brian Mason, the Colts special teams coordinator, and immediately found a rhythm with one of the best special teams units in the league.
According to a league source, the Colts plan to retain Shrader this offseason heading into training camp, as he enters the final season of his two-year deal signed last spring -- which includes a $1.2 million base salary that isn't guaranteed.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts re-sign kicker Blake Grupe, setting up training camp battle with Spencer Shrader
Continue reading...
