As fun as Week 5 was for Indianapolis Colts fans, one aspect of the game was brutal. After kicker Spencer Shrader was injured on an extra point attempt, Indy had no choice but to keep trying 2-point conversions and have punter Rigoberto Sanchez do the kickoffs.
At least Sanchez finally had something to do. The punter kicked off six times in the game as Indy kept scoring points. He's only punted seven times through five games.
But having Sanchez keep kicking off and attempting 2-point conversions is not sustainable. It is fortuitous that the game was not closer because Indianapolis might have had to try a field goal. Sanchez was unlikely to do well with those attempts.
Indianapolis Colts are quick to find Spencer Shrader's replacement
After the game, head coach Shane Steichen said that Shrader's injury didn't look good. This meant that the Colts were likely going to have to find a new kicker who might need to be with the team for a long time. Indy didn't take too long to make a choice and signed former Colts kicker Michael Badgley.
The unfortunate part has to do more with the human being that is Shrader. He bounced around the league a bit before winning the Colts kicker spot in training camp and the preseason. He is only 26 years old and might have called Indy home for a long time. He still might, but the team doesn't have to hold on to him either.
That is especially true if Michael Badgley turns out to be a long-term option, especially from distance. Shrader was excellent from within 50 yards, but clearly limited from beyond that. He had attempted only two from beyond 50 this season and missed one.
The #Colts are signing kicker Michael Badgley to the active roster, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 7, 2025
After Spencer Shrader's season-ending knee injury, Indy moves forward with Badgley, who kicked for Indy in 2021 and is healthy after missing last season because of injury. pic.twitter.com/8GBa1fXeFB
He also missed another attempt against the Denver Broncos, but a Denver penalty allowed Shrader another chance from within 50 yards, and he made it.
Badgley, though, hasn't shown he can be great from long distance. He didn't play anywhere in 2024 and is just five for 13 from beyond 50 yards in his career. In other words, Indianapolis hopes Spencer Shrader can return next year, and Badgley is a short-term player.