Spencer Shrader Injury Update
Spencer Shrader’s injury was one of those moments where football fans collectively winced, even if they were just mindlessly scrolling box scores. It happened during Sunday's Week 5 matchup between the Colts and the Raiders, right when everyone was starting to believe this Indy offense might finally be for real after an early scoring spree. One second, Shrader was lining up for a routine extra point Colts had just scored their second touchdown, and the stadium was buzzing. The next, he’d been bowled over by a Raiders defender, grabbing at his right knee like he’d suddenly remembered every rough game he’d ever played.
On Twitter, David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) reported that Colts kicker Spencer Shrader has a right knee injury, likely an MCL issue, making it impossible for him to kick. He also noted that the Raiders punter went to the locker room as well.
It was October 5th, 2025, smack in the second quarter. Not a fumble or blown coverage, but a kicker getting the worst kind of attention, knocked down by Tristin McCollum, who was flagged for roughing. The crowd’s reaction was pretty telling, too anxious murmurs, people standing up, teammates kneeling, that hush you get when fans sense something’s not right, even before the trainers swarm the field. Shrader tried getting up, but you could tell from his hobble to the sideline it was going to take more than halftime tape to fix this.
Well, that's the kind of bad luck only football brings a right knee injury on his kicking leg, forced out before half and ruled out for the rest of the game. The coach’s update after? “Doesn’t look good, but I don’t have the full update,” which is coach-speak for “brace yourself, folks”. By then, punter Rigoberto Sanchez was warming up on the sideline, fans joking in the stands about calling Adam Vinatieri out of retirement or fitting Sanchez with extra toes. A few guys shared their own horror stories about high school injuries one time, my cousin played through a sprained ankle for three drives before his mom forced him to sit. Shrader didn't even get that chance; after a quick tent check, he was off to the locker room and the Colts suddenly had to improvise every kicking play.
Shrader was fresh off being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, perfect on point-afters, and leading the NFL in field goals. The loss is pretty huge. No fancy chart can capture the messiness, but one thing’s clear: Colts fans will be swapping kicker rumors all week. “Football gods,” as one old-timer barked leaving the stadium, “they don’t mess around.”
