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Shrader, who had alerted the coaching staff to his physical setback just minutes before kickoff, proved instrumental in the result by converting all four of his field goal attempts. His contributions included successful kicks from 39, 58, 37, and the game-winning 53-yard effort with only 16 seconds remaining on the clock.
Overcoming adversity to seal the win
The path to victory was far from straightforward for the Colts. After a late fumble by quarterback Daniel Jones—forced by Texans edge rusher Will Anderson—Houston capitalized to take a 17-16 lead with less than two minutes left in the game. Faced with a high-pressure situation, the Colts offense marched down the field, setting the stage for Shrader’s heroics.
Head coach
A perfect start to the season
To manage his injury throughout the contest, the team utilized punter Rigoberto Sanchez for kickoff duties, allowing Shrader to focus exclusively on his field goal responsibilities. The kicker, who is returning from a severe knee injury sustained in 2025, noted that the team’s training staff worked extensively on his groin in the moments leading up to the game to ensure he could compete.
Shrader’s performance on Sunday kept his season record unblemished at 8-for-8. Notably, he has been perfect on all three of his attempts from 50 yards or beyond this year. Reflecting on his composure under pressure, Shrader remarked that he felt he was striking the ball as well as he ever has, even suggesting he had the range to convert from beyond 60 yards had the situation required it.
