The injury to kicker Spencer Shrader was about the only thing that could dampen the Indianapolis Colts‘ spirits Sunday.
Yet, former Colts punter, and current radio host, Pat McAfee reported the Colts placekicker was in a good place emotionally despite sustaining a devastating knee injury during their 40-6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Shrader’s injury, which he sustained after he was run into by Tristan McCollum of the Raiders on his second made extra point in the second quarter, was announced by the Colts as a torn ACL and MCL on Monday. The Colts announced he would miss the rest of the 2025 season.
Pat McAfee: Spencer Shrader ‘Was In Good Spirits’ After Injury
McAfee was at the game Sunday and spent his show Monday discussing Shrader’s injury.
“[I] went in[to the Colts locker room]. His spirits were good,” McAfee said. “It seems like he is obviously on the right track but obviously is going through a lot of shock there too.”
The injury caused the Colts to attempt, and subsequently fail, three two-point conversions, before Jonathan Taylor converted a third-quarter octopus that put Indy up 40-3.
McAfee and his crew also spent time raving about the Colts medical staff after pointing out Shrader’s outstanding start, since he bounced between three different teams in 2024 before returning to the Colts for this season.
Shrader went 13 for 14 on field goals and 14 for 14 on extra points and was honored as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September.
“He’s been great for [the Colts],” McAfee said. “He’s already hit a game-winner. He’s got a massive leg. … He’s a good kicker. We’ve been lucky to have him here, and he loves the Colts.
Pat McAfee Believes Spencer Shrader Will Bounce Back From Knee Injury
Shrader may only be in his second NFL season, but he is 26 years old after kicking five years in college — four at the University of South Florida and his senior year at Notre Dame.
He was not drafted yet persevered through his up-and-down rookie campaign. He was signed to the Colts practice squad and kicked Week 1 in place of injured Matt Gay but was released Oct. 16.
Shrader went onto not miss a kick, yet was released by three teams — the Colts, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets — during the season before catching back on with Indianapolis on March 13.
So according to McAfee, Shrader’s injury is just another bump in the road — albeit a very big bump — that the kicker will persevere through. He also helped build up the Westfield, Indiana native’s confidence to get over the long, and undoubtedly painful, road ahead.
“I think he’ll bounce back, but [his injury] is going to suck, and I told him that,” McAfee said. “I didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m like ‘What you’re about to go through is about to suck, but on the other side you’ll be mentally tougher and you’re better and you’re younger and you’ve got a special talent.’”
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