WESTFIELD, Ind. – With training camp in full swing, so is the kicking competition between Blake Grupe and Spencer Shrader.
Before he sustained a torn ACL in Week 5 of the 2025 season, Shrader was 13/14 on field goals, and 14/14 on extra points. After a seven-week stint with Michael Badgley kicking, the Colts brought Grupe in for the final five games of the season. He went 11/11 on field goals, including a franchise record-setting 60-yarder against the Seattle Seahawks, and 10/10 on extra points.
With both kickers out on the field for camp, the Colts now face a kicking competition, which they've each faced in years past.
"That's the nature of the position," Grupe said. "Everyone knows what they're signing up for. You just go out there and worry about you, and take it one rep at a time."
Off the field, however, the two have a deep-rooted friendship that stems from their time at Notre Dame. In fact, Grupe was one of the main members of the Fighting Irish to recruit Shrader when he entered the transfer portal in 2022 from South Florida.
Take a look at the best photos from Monday's training camp practice at Grand Park Sports Campus.
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17, RB Jonathan Taylor #28 and DeAndre Smith Running Backs
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
QB Anthony Richardson Sr. #5 and RB DJ Giddens #21
WR Raylen Sharpe #8 and WR Eli Pancol #83
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Sahmir Hagans #11
WR Raylen Sharpe #8
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine # 12, WR Coleman Owen #9 and WR Laquon Treadwell #13
WR Liam Clifford #3
Shane Steichen Head Coach
WR Josh Downs #2 and CB Cam Taylor-Britt #26
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Laquon Treadwell #13
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine # 12
RB Seth McGowan #20
WR Eli Pancol #83
QB Riley Leonard #15, Cam Turner - Quarterbacks, QB Daniel Jones #17 and QB Easton Stick #4
CTanor Bortolini #60
LS Luke Rhodes #46
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
LB Akeem Davis #51
LB Tahj Chambers #44
CB Sauce Gardner #1
LB Akeem Davis #51 and LB CJ Allen #53
G Quenton Nelson #56
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Sauce Gardner #1 and Shane Steichen Head Coach
S Camryn Bynum #0
S Camryn Bynum #0 and S Jonathan Owens #38
Shane Steichen Head Coach and TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
G Quenton Nelson #56
LB Austin Ajiake #58
LB CJ Allen #53
S Camryn Bynum #0
Lou Anarumo Defensive Coordinator and CB Sauce Gardner #1
WR Josh Downs #2
LS Luke Rhodes #46
LS Luke Rhodes #46
QB Daniel Jones #17
CB Sauce Gardner #1
TE Tyler Warren #84
QB Daniel Jones #17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
K Blake Grupe #10
QB Riley Leonard #15
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Riley Leonard #15
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
RB Roydell Williams #36
Shane Steichen Head Coach and Carlie Irsay-Gordon - Owner & CEO
RB DJ Giddens #21
RB Seth McGowan #20
RB Seth McGowan #20
RB Roydell Williams #36
RB Roydell Williams #36
RB Roydell Williams #36
RB Seth McGowan #20
RB Seth McGowan #20
WR Ashton Dulin #16
WR Ashton Dulin #16
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
TE Drew Ogletree #85
WR Ashton Dulin #16
TE Tyler Warren #84
QB Daniel Jones #17
WR Ashton Dulin #16 and CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
WR Ashton Dulin #16 and CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
CB Justin Walley #27 and WR Josh Downs #2
CB Justin Walley #27 and WR Josh Downs #2
QB Daniel Jones #17
S A.J. Haulcy #25
DE Laiatu Latu #97
CB Sauce Gardner #1 and WR Ashton Dulin #16
QB Daniel Jones #17
DE George Gumbs Jr. #52
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine # 12 and CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
S Trey Washington #41
T Bernhard Raimann #79
CB Jonathan Edwards #35
OL Josh Sills #66 and DT Jerry Tillery #94
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine # 12
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37, WR Deion Burks #80 and CB Justin Walley #27
S Daniel Scott #32
CB Justin Walley #27 and WR Ashton Dulin #16
CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
CB Sauce Gardner #1 and WR Josh Downs #2
LB Bryce Boettcher #50
CB Jonathan Edwards #35 and WR Josh Downs #2
CB Jonathan Edwards #35 and WR Eli Pancol #83
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
QB Easton Stick #4
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
CTanor Bortolini #60
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Seth McGowan #20 and DT Tim Smith #93
G Jalen Farmer #62
G Jalen Farmer #62
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
DE Laiatu Latu #97
S Camryn Bynum #0
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DT Cam Ball #64
DT Cam Ball #64
DT DeForest Buckner #99
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither #51 and S A.J. Haulcy #25
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DT Grover Stewart #90
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
DT Grover Stewart #90 and DT DeForest Buckner #99
DT DeForest Buckner #99 and DT Grover Stewart #90
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
K Blake Grupe #10 and P Rigoberto Sanchez #8
DE Laiatu Latu #97
Carlos Hyde
CB Jai'Onte' McMillan #42
Lou Anarumo Defensive Coordinator
DT Grover Stewart #90
WR D.J. Montgomery
Elandon Roberts
CB Jai'Onte' McMillan #42
Nadine Nurasyid Harriet P. Irsay Fellow and Jerome Henderson Defensive Backs Coach
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Charvarius Ward Sr. #7
QB Daniel Jones #17
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
S Trey Washington #41
LB West Weeks #47
QB Riley Leonard #15
CB Sauce Gardner #1
S Camryn Bynum #0
WR Josh Downs #2
S Daniel Scott #32
DT Grover Stewart #90
TE Sean McKeon #49
DE Mitchell Melton #54 and LB Tahj Chambers #44
LB West Weeks #47
QB Daniel Jones #17 and T Jalen Travis #75
S Camryn Bynum #0
"I want the best for him, and I know he wants the best for me," Shrader said. "I have nothing but respect for him. He's an excellent kicker."
Separating the competition from the friendship has been somewhat easy for Grupe and Shrader. Grupe has been through competitions every year he's been in the league, but his relationship with Shrader has made this go around a bit easier.
"To go against a guy you have truly been friends with and have known over the years, you can't ask for a better guy to go against," Grupe said. "We're duking it out one-on-one and it is what it is."
For now, the plan is to rotate Grupe and Shrader's kicking days. Grupe went Monday and made all six of his field goal attempts, with the longest at 57 yards.
