The Indianapolis Colts could be without their kicker for the season opener. Veteran Matt Gay disclosed to reporters that he recently underwent hernia surgery and his availability for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans remains uncertain, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59/CBS4 Sports.
Gay first experienced discomfort over the past weekend. After further evaluation, it was determined that he required surgical intervention. Although the surgery is expected to have a relatively quick recovery time, Gay might still be sidelined for this weekend’s match.
Gay joined the Colts last offseason after a successful three-year tenure with the Los Angeles Rams, signing a four-year contract worth $22.5 million. His performance in his inaugural season with Indianapolis was less impressive than in previous years; he converted 80.5 percent of his field goal attempts, marking his lowest accuracy rate since his rookie year. Despite this, Gay achieved notable feats, including setting a single-game record by making four field goals from over 50 yards in one game. He also converted 35 of 36 extra point attempts during the season.
To address the possibility of Gay’s surgery absence, the Colts have added kicker Spencer Shrader to their practice squad. Shrader, a rookie who went undrafted out of Notre Dame, was signed by the Colts earlier this offseason. Last season, he made 15 of 22 field goal attempts and successfully converted 61 of 62 extra point tries. Over his four years at South Florida, Shrader had a field goal accuracy rate of 68.3 percent and a perfect record of extra points at 99 percent.
The Colts are preparing for the potential scenario of playing without Gay, and Shrader’s inclusion in the practice squad provides them with a contingency plan. The team will be closely monitoring Gay’s recovery to determine if he will be able to participate in their Week 1 game.
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