Michael Badgley’s Back: Indianapolis Colts Call On Familiar Face After Kicker Injury
In a move that feels like putting on a comfortable, slightly-used pair of cleats, the Indianapolis Colts have brought back Kicker Michael Badgley. This reunion comes after the gut-wrenching news that rookie sensation Spencer Shrader is done for the season with a knee injury.
Just when Colts fans were starting to feel the good vibes, Shrader, the reigning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, went down in the Week 5 victory over the Raiders. It was a classic “football giveth, and football taketh away” moment. One minute you are celebrating a win, the next you are holding a city-wide tryout for a new kicker. The front office wasted no time, bringing in a posse of kickers on Tuesday before ultimately landing on a familiar name.
Why Michael Badgley Is the Colts’ Choice
The #Colts are signing kicker Michael Badgley to the active roster, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo.
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
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 7, 2025
Enter Badgley, aka the “Money Badger.” It is not his first dance in Indy; he suited up for the Colts back in 2021. After a stint with the Detroit Lions, Badgley is back and, most importantly, healthy. He missed the 2024 season with a hamstring injury, but now he’s ready to step in and fill some seriously big shoes.
Let’s be real, Shrader was on a tear. He was perfect on extra points and had only missed one field goal all season, including a game-winner against Denver. Replacing that kind of clutch performance is no small task. However, Badgley isn’t some rookie fresh off the bus. He’s a seasoned veteran with a career field goal success rate of over 82%. He’s got the experience, having kicked for the Chargers, Titans, and Bears as well. While his long-range game from 50+ yards has been a bit of a coin flip (7-for-15), he’s been reliable on the must-make kicks.
Final Thoughts
The Colts are betting on that experience to steady the ship. They need someone who won’t be rattled by the pressure, and Badgley has seen it all. It is a tough blow losing a breakout star like Shrader, but in the unforgiving world of the NFL, it’s always “next man up.” For the Colts, that man is Badgley, and they are hoping he can bring some of that old magic back to Lucas Oil Stadium, starting this Sunday against the Cardinals.
