Tag: Cullen Gillaspia

Giants sign fullback Cullen Gillaspia

The New York Giants have signed former Houston Texans fullback Cullen Gillaspia.

The New York Giants have signed fullback Cullen Gillaspia, who was waived by the Houston Texans with a failed physical designation last week. The move was announced via the Giants’ official mobile app.

The 25-year-old Gillaspia was a seventh-round pick (No. 220 overall) of the Texans in the 2019 NFL draft, joining them out of Texas A&M.

Gillaspia, 6-foot-1 and 234 pounds, has appeared in 23 career games, primarily as a special teamer. He’s recorded nine tackle (three solo) and recovered two onside kicks (six yards). He has also caught one pass for six yards (8 YAC).

In 2019, Gillaspia took 268 special teams snaps and earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 55.9. In 2020, he took 114 snaps and earned a grade of 51.0.

Despite his presence on special teams, Gillaspia has also taken a few snaps as an offensive blocker. There have been a few (okay, one or two) highlights:

The Giants also have fullback Eli Penny, an unsung and underused star, under contract through the 2021 season. If he were released, it would clear the team $990,000 in cap space (no dead cap).

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Texans waive former Texas A&M, Katy Taylor FB Cullen Gillaspia

The Houston Texans have waived former Texas A&M and Katy Taylor fullback Cullen Gillaspia, a 2019 seventh-round pick.

The Houston Texans are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to the evaluation of the roster following the club’s 4-12 finish in 2020.

The Texans announced Tuesday they have waived former Texas A&M and Katy Taylor fullback Cullen Gillaspia.

The former 2019 seventh-round pick played 23 games for the Texans in his two seasons with the AFC South club, racking up nine combined tackles. On offense, Gillaspia caught one pass for six yards in the Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. In the postseason, he returned two kickoffs for six yards.

Former coach Bill O’Brien was especially impressed with the way Gillaspia played in the AFC wild-card win over the Buffalo Bills in January of 2020.

“He’s done a lot of good things for us on special teams and we’ve worked them during the week at times,” said O’Brien on Jan. 6, 2020. “We just hadn’t been able to use it that much, but use him in some of the roles that he can do in the backfield and he helped us. On Deshaun’s (Watson) touchdown run, 20-yard touchdown run, Cullen made a great block on that play. He did he did some good things in the game.”

Gillaspia was inactive for four games in 2020. The 6-1, 234-pound fullback was on injured reserve for the final five games of the season. Gillaspia’s season got off to an inconsistent start as he dealt with a concussion.

Texans vs. Colts final injury report: RB C.J. Prosise, FB Cullen Gillaspia out

The Houston Texans released their final injury report for Week 13 against the Indianapolis Colts, and RB C.J. Prosise and FB Cullen Gillaspia are out.

The Houston Texans released their last injury report as the club gears up to play the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium.

Fullback Cullen Gillaspia (back) and running back C.J. Prosise (illness) did not practice all week. They have been declared out for the game.

Defensive tackle Ross Blacklock (illness) did not practice all week until Friday, and he was limited at that. The club has placed a questionable designation for the second-round rookie from TCU.

Punter Bryan Anger (right quad) and safety Lonnie Johnson (knee) had full participation for the first time all week. Neither received a designation for Sunday, which means they should be a full go.

The Colts declared safety Khari Willis (back/quad), punter Rigoberto Sanchez (illness), linebacker Bobby Okereke (ankle), and offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo (knee) out for the game.

Defensive lineman Denico Autry (illness), defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (illness), and quarterback Philip Rivers (toe) were full participants in Friday’s practice and none of them received a designation for Sunday’s game.

For complete details on the Colts’ injury situation, check out the Colts Wire.

Texans Week 12 injury designations: Randall Cobb, Kenny Stills ruled OUT

The Detroit Lions (4-6) Week 12 opponent, the Houston Texans (3-7), have released their injury designations ahead of Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day game. 

The Detroit Lions (4-6) Week 12 opponent, the Houston Texans (3-7), have released their injury designations ahead of Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day game.

Here’s a look at the Texans’ full injury designations list.

Injury status

Player Position Injury Designation
Josh McCown QB Illness OUT
Cullen Gillaspia FB Back OUT
Randall Cobb WR (starter) Toe Placed on IR
Kenny Stills WR Quad OUT
P.J. Hall DT (starter) Knee/Shoulder OUT
Laremy Tunsil LT (starter) Illness No Designation
Senio Kelemete LG Concussion No Designation
Bryan Anger P (starter) Quad Questionable

Cobb has made a career of beating up on the Lions and Stills’ speed would have surely given the Lions issues, so Detroit catches a break with the two of them missing this game. Unfortunately, the Texans still feature solid wide receiver options, including starters Brandon Cooks and Will Fuller, as well as Keke Coutee, who will likely take over Cobb’s spot.

Tunsil missed last week’s game and Roderick Johnson filled in admirably for him. Tunsil looks ready to go with no injury designation, but if for some reason his illness pops back up again, they have a capable replacement at the ready.

Anger punted through a Quad injury last week and he is expected to play.

Texans vs. Patriots inactives: LT Laremy Tunsil out

The Houston Texans announced their inactives ahead of their Week 11 encounter with the New England Patriots and LT Laremy Tunsil is out.

The Houston Texans announced their inactives ahead of their Week 11 encounter with the New England Patriots Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium.

The Texans declared LT Laremy Tunsil out. The Pro Bowler had been battling an illness all week and never practiced.

FB Cullen Gillaspia (back) and G Senio Kelemete (concussion) were also declared inactives with injuries.

The other inactives included QB Josh McCown, WR Isaiah Coulter, and DE Nate Orchard.

The Patriots declared RB Sony Michel, DB Myles Bryant, RB J.J. Taylor, DT Adam Butler, QB Brian Hoyer, and WR Isaiah Ford.

Texans FB Cullen Gillaspia being evaluated for a concussion

Houston Texans fullback Cullen Gillaspia is being evaluated for a concussion in the Week 2 encounter with the Baltimore Ravens.

Houston Texans fullback Cullen Gillaspia is being evaluated for a concussion, according to the team.

While Gillaspia hasn’t been a big part of the Texans’ offensive plans with neither a target nor a carry against the Baltimore Ravens, the former 2019 seventh-rounder from Texas A&M is a key part of the special teams unit. Not having Gillaspia would force a player from the offensive or defensive sides to play more snaps in the transition phase.

Gillaspia was not active for Week 1 as he was dealing with a hamstring issue. He practiced all three days ahead of Week 2.

This is a developing story.

Texans FB Cullen Gillaspia, WR Keke Coutee improving

Houston Texans fullback Cullen Gillaspia and receiver Keke Coutee are recovering from their ailments that have held them out of training camp.

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien gave an update on fullback Cullen Gillaspia and receiver Keke Coutee in his Saturday media session.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the former 2019 seventh-round fullback from Texas A&M is doing some running as his leg injury continues to improve. However, Gillaspia will not participate in Saturday’s practice.

Who could be available during Saturday’s practice is Coutee, who has been struggling with a foot stress fracture. The former 2018 fifth-round pick from Texas Tech has had a good camp to this point, and the foot injury was a setback in Coutee’s bid to be an integral part of the passing game or return teams.

“Keke has done a really good job of coming back and doing everything that we’ve asked him to do,” offensive coordinator Tim Kelly told reporters on Aug. 18. “He’s been able to go out there and make plays when they’ve come his way, building trust with the quarterbacks and being where he is supposed to be when he’s supposed to be there.

“At the end of the day, the biggest part of that position is getting open and catching the football. Keke’s doing a great job of that.”

Gillaspia is a key part of the Texans’ special teams, and ostensibly there could be a place for him when he returns. The longer Coutee stays out of the action, the more he falls behind in a highly competitive receiver group.

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What is the Texans’ plan at running back behind David Johnson, Duke Johnson?

The Houston Texans have options at running back behind David Johnson and Duke Johnson, and the depth will play itself out throughout August.

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The Houston Texans believe they have two three-down running backs in David Johnson and Duke Johnson.

What’s the plan after that?

According to coach and general manager Bill O’Brien, fullback Cullen Gillaspia, a 2019 seventh-round pick from Texas A&M who excelled at special teams as a rookie, is developing a larger role in the team’s offense.

“You’ve got guys like Cullen Gillaspia that’s kind of a guy that is a core special teams player but can do a lot of things from the backfield,” O’Brien said.

Gillaspia played all 16 games for Houston last season, recording six special teams tackles. In fact, the former 12th Man for the Aggies played 274 special teams snaps compared to just 13 snaps on offense.

The Texans haven’t exactly been a fullback heavy team under O’Brien. Jay Prosch, who played from 2014-17, tallied 16 touches for 103 yards in his four seasons with the club.

Karan Higdon, who returns after his rookie season as an undrafted free agent from Michigan, is battling with practice-squadder Buddy Howell for an opening on the final roster. The Texans are expected to carry three running backs as they did last season with Taiwan Jones playing the role of special teams ace.

While O’Brien has acknowledged 2020 will be a difficult season for rookies and younger players to make rosters, undrafted running back Scottie Phillips from Ole Miss managed to get mentioned as it related to the running back depth.

“You’ve got Scottie Phillips out there, an undrafted guy who’s gotten better and better every day,” O’Brien said. “So in some ways it’s very competitive relative to the 53.”

The Texans know who their front line starters are in David Johnson and Duke Johnson. The depth behind the two running backs is a position battle that will work itself out as the extended training camp rolls on through the rest of August.

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Katy native FB Cullen Gillaspia takes pride in Texans’ special teams

Katy native and Texas A&M Cullen Gillaspia takes pride in being a core special teamer for the Houston Texans.

The seventh round of the NFL Draft tends to be a shot in the dark. Teams will take a special teamer, an athletic but raw prospect or a high-character athlete in hoping they stick on the roster.

In the Houston Texans’ case in 2019,  they found fullback Cullen Gillaspia. The first 12th Man drafted in Texas A&M history, the 24-year-old Katy native is a core special teamer that plays like his long blonde locks are on fire.

“He does a good job,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said on Monday. “He takes a lot of pride in his role on special teams. That’s the primary reason why he was drafted. I mean, drafted, like, seventh round. Like, kind of drafted, I guess. He takes a lot of pride in that role.”

Gillaspia walked on to Texas A&M. He later converted from linebacker to fullback, earned a scholarship, won the honorable title of the 12th Man and found himself in the NFL playing for the team he grew up watching.

“Obviously, he was the 12th Man at A&M, he’s a Houston guy, he’s from Katy,” O’Brien said. “He loves it and he works real hard.”

On Sunday, in a Texans 24-21 win over the Tennessee Titans, Gillaspia tallied a key special teams tackle, his sixth of the season. “He made a really nice play on that,” O’Brien said. “Very physical play and did a nice job on that play he made.”

In the same game, Gillaspia paved a lane for a 31-yard DeAndre Carter kick return.

The Aggie and Katy Taylor product may not be a key contributor on offense. He has only seen 13 offense snaps and none since Week 8. However, he’s played in every single game as a rookie in a special teams role, recording 238 snaps in the third team, which is good value for a seventh-round selection.