Entering Indianapolis’ Week 7 game against the Minnesota Vikings, Colts kicker Spencer Shrader had yet to miss a field goal in 2026. He was six-for-six in attempts over 50 yards including a career long of 58 yards. In fact, during his short career, Shrader had only ever missed two kicks – a long field goal try last year and an extra point in the first game of 2026.
In that context, his two misses in a Week 7 loss to Minnesota may simply be an anomaly. But the kicker’s post-game comments may signal a bigger problem. As reported by the Indy Star’s Nathan Brown, Shrader admitted that his first miss may have directly affected his second.
“I was kinda thrown off,” the former Notre Dame kicker said after the game. That is either a brave and honest admission or a sign of trouble ahead. It may, in fact, be a sign of both.
Spencer Shrader’s post-game comments signal a looming issue for the Colts’ kicker
Let’s be clear about one thing. Spencer Shrader was arguably Indianapolis’ most reliable performer through the first six weeks of 2026. On a team that has been struggling mightily to generate points, his consistency has been a bright spot. Before the Vikings game, he was in the discussion for All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
And he might return to that conversation if he bounces back strong in the weeks ahead. Every kicker goes through some turmoil. It is the equivalent of a golfer with the yips or a baseball catcher who suddenly can’t throw the ball back to the pitcher. When these things happen, psychological resilience is vital.
Three dedicated place kickers are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Between them are Jan Stenerud, Morten Andersen, and Colts legend Adam Vinitieri missed 445 field goals. Stenerud is second on the all-time misses list. The only player to have missed more was George Blanda, who played quarterback in addition to kicking. Blanda is also in the Hall of Fame.
Missing a kick isn’t the problem. Even if it’s an important kick. Missing the next one is the problem. That turns a kicker into an unreliable part of a team’s offense.
Shrader’s first miss came from 56 yards out. No shame in that. It came late in the third quarter and would have given the Colts a seven-point lead. Minnesota used the resultant good field position to score a go-ahead touchdown.
Shrader did not appear to strike the ball cleanly. It began as a knuckling line drive clearly outside the left upright, and though it did start to fade back to the right, it didn’t fade far enough.
The second miss was more significant. Late in the fourth quarter, with Colts down by three, he appeared to hit his 48-yard attempt more cleanly. But it started at the right upright and kept drifting. It is not unusual for Shrader’s long kicks to have some late action on them, but this one did not. It began right and stayed there.
Did he overcompensate after missing left earlier? Did he strike the ball differently, which prevented it from hooking back left? During his great run this year, Shrader’s kicks sometimes initially faded right and then hooked back left, but they were always within the frame of the goalposts. These kicks began off target, so perhaps there was something wrong with his setup.
These are all things to be worked out before the Colts next take the field.
It is possible that there may be a physical issue. On the opening kickoff, the Vikings' Myles Price sprinted through a big hole on the left side of the Colts' coverage unit, and Shrader had to get involved in the tackle around midfield. As is typical in such situations, the kicker awkwardly whiffed on a tackle attempt but did force Price to slow a bit, allowing for others to bring him down.
Kickers get hurt on plays like that all the time. It simply is not in their athletic profile to make such a tackle. Shrader appeared fine after the play, but that first kick was clearly an ugly strike.
If it is indeed a physical problem, that might be better, provided it is not serious. Physical issues heal. But once a kicker begins questioning his technique, that can linger. They say that kickers and cornerbacks need short memories because they are all destined to fail in very obvious ways. (There is a current Dr. Pepper commercial based on this very subject.)
Shrader said what he said. If that helps him put this all behind him and return to his sensational season, it was the right move. But if he continues to struggle, his post-game comments will haunt him.
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