In 2025, just as the Indianapolis Colts will do in 2026, Indy had multiple kickers in training camp trying out for the same job. No team should carry multiple kickers, of course, as there are only 53-men on a roster. After Spencer Shrader won the job before Week 1, the team released Maddux Trujillo.
Trujillo ran into the same situation with his most recent team, too. The Buffalo Bills had one too many kickers, and this week, they made room for a linebacker by releasing Trujillo. His chances of finding another job are iffy.
After the Colts gave him up, he didn't find another home. He signed with Buffalo in early January, so he didn't last an entire offseason there. He was solid in college, but didn't get drafted out of Temple. He made a 64-yard field goal in college, too, but he didn't show Indianapolis nearly the leg strength to keep him around.
Buffalo Bills release former Indianapolis Colts kicker Maddux Trujillo
To be fair, though, general manager Chris Ballard seemingly likes to have a kicker competition. In theory, that's fine. In the NFL, one should be challenged to keep their job. That's what it will be like in training camp this year when Shrader battles Blake Grupe for the one spot on the roster.
One should likely assume that Grupe will come out the winner, however. Shrader hurt his knee during the 2025 season, and he might not be fully healthy by camp. More importantly, Grupe has spent several seasons in the NFL, and before the New Orleans Saints gave up on him last season, he wasn't bad.
After joining the Colts late last season, he was even better. In five games, he made all 11 of his field goal attempts and all 10 of his extra point tries. He made one from 60 yards, which gives him an advantage over Shrader.
The latter was seemingly going to be an accurate kicker, but not one with an overly strong leg. He made one of his two attempts from beyond 50 yards, but that one was just 52 yards. A kicker, obviously, can steal a game or two by making a terrifically long field goal. Grupe will give the Indianapolis Colts a better chance to do that.
Who won't give Indy that chance is Maddux Trujillo. Perhaps, he will find a place to coach kickers. He might be good at that. Having a place on an NFL team is far less likely.
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