Kicker Spencer Shrader bouncing on and off the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad as a rookie and then from team to team at one point played a key role in the growth that he experienced over the last year, as he now looks to secure a starting job.

“I think all the adventures I got to experience last year were a huge blessing at the end of the day,” Shrader said. “Each opportunity helps to build your mental resiliency when you go into new programs, working with new players, around new coaching staffs, and so I look at last year as just an unbelievable blessing.”

Shrader signed with the Colts last April as an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame. After competing throughout the summer, he was initially released by the team during roster cutdowns before being signed back to the practice squad.

Outside of starting for the Colts in Week 1 while Matt Gay was injured, Shrader spent roughly the first half of last season on and off the Indianapolis practice squad, as GM Chris Ballard frequently churned the back end of the roster.

However, injuries at kicker for the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs would lead to opportunities there for Shrader. When it was all said and done, he finished his rookie season going 9-for-9 on extra point attempts and 5-for-5 on field goals over four games with three different teams.

As Ballard recalled earlier this offseason, Shrader’s ability to bounce from one team to the next and work with different holders and snappers while remaining consistent throughout is a big reason why the team brought him back during free agency.

“It’s allowed me to be a little bit more mature,” Shrader said of last season. “A little bit more grown this coming around. So I think if you just phrase those things positively, they always impact you for the better.”

The Colts clearly believe in Shrader quite a bit, as evidenced by their decision to move on from veteran Matt Gay. However, while Shrader may be the favorite to be the Colts’ kicker this season, he is in an “open competition” with 2025 UDFA Maddux Trujillo.

So far, both kickers are off to strong starts during offseason programs. Ultimatley, consistency will determine who the Colts’ kicker is come Week 1.

“Spencer certainly has a little bit of a step up in that,” said special teams coordinator Brian Mason, via 107.5 The Fan. “He’s already been in the league, already been here, but it is definitely an open competition. That’s how I view it.”

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts K Spencer Shrader experience a lot of growth from rookie season