INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts (4-1) are off to their best start in years, winning all but one of their first five matchups and sitting atop the AFC standings. However, it didn't come without a cost, as they were dealt a season-ending injury to one of their most important players on Sunday, kicker Spencer Shrader.
According to ESPN's Pat McAfee, who spoke with Shrader late in the Colts' 40-6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, he believes that Shrader may have torn multiple ligaments in his right knee. That would normally require season-ending surgery. McAfee's statement has since been confirmed by multiple outlets, and then ultimately by Colts head coach Shane Steichen on Monday afternoon.
Steichen advised that Shrader suffered injuries to his ACL and MCL.
Midway through the second quarter of the Colts' demolition of the Raiders, Shrader successfully kicked an extra point to put the Colts up, 14-3. However, Raiders safety Tristin McCollum came around the edge and dove for the potential block, crashing into Shrader's just-planted, extended right leg. Shrader lay on the ground in pain while being attended to by the medical staff, with his teammates dropping to a knee and surrounding him. He would eventually walk off the field on his own.
David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) on X
#SpencerShrader @Colts
Right knee injury
Likely MCL
No way to kick with that injury
@Raiders punter to locker room too
The Colts went on to win but didn't attempt another kick, instead electing to go for two points after their four remaining touchdowns.
Just days before Sunday's game, Shrader had been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September, his first such honor, now in his second pro season.
Through the first five games of the season, Shrader was 13-of-14 on field goal attempts (92.9%) and a perfect 14-of-14 on extra points (100%). In Week 2 against the Denver Broncos, he hit a 45-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to win the game, 29-28, which pushed the Colts to a 2-0 record.
Shrader entered Week 5 with the most field goals made in the NFL and was tied for fourth in extra points made. He also had the most points (51), which was 12 more than the next highest player, and the most for a Colts player through the first four games of a season in franchise history.
With Shrader confirmed to be out, the Colts will turn their sights to external options to kick for them for the remainder of the season and should have a move in place in the coming days. Steichen said that they will bring a few players in over the next 24 hours.
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.
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