Colts release kicker Matt Gay

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts released kicker Matt Gay, the team announced Thursday.




The Colts signed Gay as a free agent in 2023, bringing him in to solidify the kicking game. While Gay had some highlight moments--a 2023 game at Baltimore springs immediately to mind--he struggled at distance.




During his two seasons in Indy, he connected on 11 of 22 kicks from 50+ yards. That included just 3 of 9 in 2024. He'd been much better as distance (12 of 15) during his three-year stint with the Rams.




His overall kicking percentage dropped to about 82% in Indianapolis, a noticeable drop-off from his nearly 92% rate with Los Angeles.




Gay was in the final year of his three-year contract and would've counted $6.75 million against the salary cap. Cutting him saves the team $2.75 million in cap space and carries $4 million in dead money.




With Gay no longer with the team, the Colts will turn to Spencer Shrader, an undrafted free agent who played college football at South Florida and Notre Dame.




Last season, Shrader was on and off the Colts' practice squad. He started the first game of the season due to an injury to Gay.




Shrader also spent time with the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs.





via: https://fox59.com/sports/colts/colts-release-kicker-matt-gay/