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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 09: Blake Grupe #19 of the New Orleans Saints in action in the game at Bank of America Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
The Indianapolis Colts added former New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe on Tuesday, but they couldn’t have expected what he’d be doing with limited work before his debut on Sunday.
Indianapolis’ special teams had started to wobble last week — and with the AFC South tightening, the team can’t afford to let one roster area slide. So when Grupe stepped onto the field at Thursday’s practice for his first real look in front of his new teammates, every swing of his right leg was being watched.
But the third-year product from Notre Dame embraced the pressure.
Seven kicks. Seven clean makes. From “chip shot to 60-plus” yards out. No hesitation. No doinks. No drama. Just ball after ball splitting the uprights.
Blake Grupe just kicked several field goals, ranging from chip shot to 60-plus, and he made every one, to the delight of his new teammates
And when the last one sailed through from deep, the sideline responded with a noticeable ripple of support as the team broke into individual drills.
Why the Colts Moved Fast on the Kicker Market
Indianapolis signed Grupe to the practice squad earlier this week after cutting Michael Badgley, who missed his third extra point in just seven games last Sunday in a 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans. The margin for error has disappeared at 8–4, tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars atop the AFC South but still technically behind on tiebreakers.
Grupe brings both experience and instability — which is exactly why this situation feels live. He arrived after a turbulent season in which he went 18-of-26 on field goals. He missed from every range this year: twice from 30–39, three times from 40–49, and three from beyond 50.
But that snapshot doesn’t tell the full story.
As a rookie in 2023, Grupe hit 81.1 percent of his field goals. Last season, he climbed to 87.1 percent. The talent never vanished — the consistency did. New Orleans moved on. Indianapolis moved fast to get a look.
What Grupe’s Early Impression Could Mean for the AFC South Race
The Colts no longer have the luxury of overlooking extra points and extra chances for three.
They are competing inside a division where every week threatens to flip the standings. Jacksonville holds the current tiebreaker edge. Houston lurks. Indianapolis can’t donate points — not in December.
But positive first impressions at this stage of the season carry weight.
Blake Grupe 7-of-7 on field goals during practice.
Smattering of applause for him as they divide back into individual drills.
Derek Hryn Derek Hryn is a writer for Heavy.com. He has extensive experience covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, along with providing expert fantasy football analysis for DraftKings and SB Nation. His work has been featured at Sports Illustrated, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others. More about Derek Hryn
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