Rhett Ellison

Player News

• Rhett Ellison: Retires from NFL

  03/09/2020 •

  Ellison (concussion) is retiring from football. Ellison missed the final six games of 2019 after suffering a concussion in November. He had previously missed Week 17 in 2018 while recovering from concussion symptoms, so it shouldn't come as any surprise to see the 31-year-old tight end choose retirement. The Giants are left with Evan Engram and Kaden Smith at the top of their depth chart, while Ellison finishes his NFL career with 118 catches for 1,189 yards and seven touchdowns in 113 regular-season games. He was mostly known for his run blocking but also displayed flashes of pass-catching ability when Engram missed time with injuries the past few years.

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• Giants' Rhett Ellison: May retire this offseason

  02/28/2020 •

  Ellison (concussion) is considering retirement, Ryan Dunleavy of the NY Post reports. Ellison missed the final six games of 2019 after suffering a concussion in November. He's now entering the final season of a four-year, $18 million contract, with the Giants able to clear out $5 million in cap space if they release the 31-year-old tight end this offseason, per overthecap.com. Reading between the lines, Ellison would need to accept a pay cut to stay with the Giants, and that's assuming he even wants to play football for another season. His combination of strong blocking and competent short-pass catching could make Ellison appealing to a variety of teams in need of a No. 2 tight end.

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• Giants' Rhett Ellison: Potential cap casualty

  02/07/2020 •

  Ellison (concussion) could be a cap casualty this offseason, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports. Ellison would count $7.2 million against the salary cap for New York if retained for 2020, an especially substantial sum for a team with promising options like Evan Engram (foot) and Kaden Smith both playing under rookie contracts. Barring a pay cut, it's realistic that the Giants could opt to part ways with Ellison, who ended the 2019 season on injured reserve due to a concussion, in favor of a more affordable blocking specialist.

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• Giants' Rhett Ellison: Placed on injured reserve

  12/28/2019 •

  Ellison (concussion) was placed on injured reserve Friday. Ellison had previously been ruled out for Sunday's season finale against the Eagles but his placement on injured reserve allows the Giants to promote defensive tackle Chris Slayton from the practice squad. With Evan Engram (foot) out, Kaden Smith and Scott Simonson figure to account for all of the tight end snaps against the Eagles.

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• Giants' Rhett Ellison: Out for season finale

  12/27/2019 •

  Ellison (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports. Unable to make his way through the NFL's concussion protocol, Ellison closes out his 2019 campaign with a sixth consecutive absence. He caught 18 of 28 targets for 167 yards and a touchdown in 10 games, making seven starts and averaging 32.3 offensive snaps per contest. Ellison has one season remaining on a four-year, $18 million contract, with the Giants able to free up $5 million in cap space if he's released during the offseason, per OverTheCap.com. The absences of Ellison and Evan Engram (foot) in Week 17 pave the way for rookie Kaden Smith to maintain a three-down role.

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