Colts sign veteran kicker after recent season-ending injury

Badgley was reportedly the winner of a kicking tryout that included seven other specialists. According to Howard Balzer of CardsWire, Ramiz Ahmed, Matt Ammendola, Lucas Havrisik, Dustin Hopkins, Josh Lambo, Harrison Mevis and Matthew Wright were Badgley’s competition for the job.

Since going undrafted out of Miami in 2018, Badgley has been a bit of a journeyman kicker, often serving as an injury replacement or holdover at the position. He signed initially with the Colts out of college but failed to make the initial 53-man roster as the team held on to legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri for another two seasons.

Badgley wasn’t given another chance until mid-October, when the Chargers signed him amidst kicking struggles that would eventually lead to the release of Caleb Sturgis. In 10 games as a rookie, Badgley converted 15 of 16 attempts with his only miss coming on an attempt over 50 yards. Even though he missed one of his 28 extra point attempts, Badgley left his mark in Los Angeles by converting a franchise record 59-yarder. In his first playoff game, Badgley factored in big by converting five of six field goal attempts to account for 15 of the team’s 23 points in a victory over the Ravens.

Injuries limited Badgley to only eight games in 2019, and in 2020, he got his first and only full season as the primary kicker for a team. In 16 games, he missed nine of his 33 attempts and miss three out of 39 extra point attempts. He failed to make the 53-man roster in Los Angeles in 2021, and his status as a journeyman would begin shortly after.

In 2021, he opened the season in Tennessee as an injury replacement for Randy Bullock but was released from the Titans’ practice squad after missing his only field goal attempt of the game and one of two extra point attempts. He then joined the Colts as an injury replacement for Rodrigo Blankenship, and over 12 games, made 18 of 22 field goal attempts and 40 of 41 extra point attempts. His 2023 season went similarly as he went four-for-four on field goals in a single game appearance for the Bears before playing 12 games with the Lions going 20-for-24 on field goals and making all 33 of his extra point attempts.

He spent time in the next offseason with the Commanders and Titans before landing once again with the Lions on the practice squad. When Riley Patterson struggled late in the year, Badgley was called up and finished the season strong for Detroit. On the team’s run to the NFC Championship game, Badgley was a perfect three-for-three on field goals and 11-for-11 on extra points in the playoffs. He tore his hamstring in the offseason and spent all of 2024 on Detroit’s IR.

Now, he’ll once again serve as an injury replacement for Shrader, who had the same responsibilities as a rookie last year, when he played games for the Colts, Jets and Chiefs. Shrader had been having a strong start to the year, going 13-for-14 on fields goals with his only miss coming from over 50 yards out.

In addition to the two kicker transactions, Indianapolis signed cornerback Troy Pride Jr. to their practice squad. In order to make room, practice squad cornerback Mike Hilton was placed on the practice squad/injured list.