The Indianapolis Colts had another dominating win this week, but it came at a price.
After the Colts extended their lead to 14-3 in the second quarter, a roughing the passer penalty sent Spencer Shrader to the sidelines. Following the game, Shane Steichen made it clear that Shrader’s injury did not look good and that he could miss significant time.
While this injury did not effect the result of the game, it will be something that will effect the Colts season. On Monday, the Colts announced that Shrader will miss the remainder of the season due the injury he suffered on Sunday. While this news is not shocking, it is a devastating blow to the Colts’ hopes of making any potential Super Bowl run. However, devastating injuries can be overcome.
Special teams is a crucial element to a team’s success. The Colts already owe one of their wins to Shrader’s reliable and clutch abilities. In Week 2, he had a walk-off kick against the Denver Broncos, which put the Colts at 2-0 for the first time since 2009. Needless to say, having a good kicker is essential and the Colts will have their work cut out for them as they find Shrader’s replacement.
The NFL has several available placekickers that the Colts should consider. However, there is one available guy who is very familiar with the organization and he is itching for another opportunity to kick.
Rodrigo Blankenship
Rodrigo Blankenship was signed as an undrafted free-agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2020. After two full seasons with the team, he was cut early in the 2022 season and bounced around a bit before settling in the UFL. Blankenship signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks on December 5, 2024. In the 2025 season, he went 21-22 and was 5-6 on field goal of 50+. He also had 55 kickoffs and with the similar kickoff rules in the UFL as the NFL, Blankenship only had three touchbacks.
Although Blankenship is familiar with the organization, the building, and various personnel, he would be coming into a very different team. For one, the coach is different. The quarterback is different. And ultimately, the ownership is different. That being said, though, Rigoberto Sanchez is still on the roster and he was Blankenship’s holder during his time with the team.
Other Options
Younghoe Koo
The best available placekicker right now is veteran, Younghoe Koo. He previously was the longtime kicker for the Atlanta Falcons before getting released earlier this season. After a missed Week 1 game-tying kick, the Falcons decided to move on and Koo has not kicked since. Fort now, he spends time on the New York Giants practice squad and has yet to get called up. Naturally, Koo would be itching for a chance to start again. The issue is whether or not he can still kick at a high level. Obviously, he was released because he was no longer doing that.
Michael Badgley
Similar to Blankenship, Michael Badgley was also signed as an undrafted free-agent by the Colts in 2018. However, he never played for them, but rather signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after being released that same year. Badgley was a fairly decent placekicker his rookie season but was unreliable with his range. He went 1-2 on 50+ attempts in 2018, 0-1 in 2019, and 2-6 in 2020. The Colts re-acquired him in 2021, but ultimately was not a long-term solution.
Similar to 2021, the Colts could try and re-acquire him again as a short-term solution as they look further for someone permanent. The issue, though, is that Badgley has not kicked since 2023 and even if he was brought in as a short-term solution, it does not solve the long-term solution of getting a reliable guy for the remainder of the season. Blankenship or Koo would certainly fit the mold of a long-term solution. Time will tell what the Colts will do. However, they just need to make a decision quickly.
The Lucky Colt 
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