HOUSTON (AP) -Rookie James Casey was drafted to play tight end for the Texans.
Less than three weeks into camp he’s working at that position but also learning long-snapping and filling in at fullback because of an injury to backup Boomer Grigsby.
His versatility is no surprise after he played tight end, fullback and quarterback as well as returned punts at Rice. And that came after he spent three years playing professional baseball.
In two seasons at Rice, Casey had 1,914 yards receiving, 392 yards rushing, threw two touchdown passes and had 117 return yards.
“His value to the team right now is his flexibility, all the things he can do,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “Obviously the kid can handle quite a bit.”
As a fifth-round draft pick, Casey isn’t picky about where he plays, he simply wants to be on the field.
thrilled to do it.”
Though he’s embracing all his duties, that doesn’t mean it has been easy. He said learning the playbook is more difficult when working at multiple positions.
But shouldn’t learning the playbook be easier for someone like Casey, an honors student at Rice with a triple major in economics, managerial studies and sports management?
“It doesn’t matter how smart you are, it’s still a lot of memorization,” he said. “There is a lot of stuff you have to remember and you have to stay on top of it no matter who you are and how smart you are.”
Casey is still adjusting to the rigors of NFL training camp, but said his time playing professional baseball helped make the transition a bit easier. He was a pitcher in the White Sox farm system for three seasons after being drafted in the seventh-round of the 2003 amateur draft.
“I was a pro before, playing baseball and it’s a totally different sport, nothing like the physical nature of it, but the same kind of mindset,” he said. “You’re a professional. It’s your job, so you go about it as a job. I’ve already done that before, so I kind of knew what to expect coming in.”
With four tight ends on the roster, mastering long-snapping might be the key to Casey securing a place on this team. Houston’s current long snapper, Clark Harris, isn’t likely to contribute at another position, so it would save a roster spot if Casey could play both offense and take over long-snapping.
So far Casey has only snapped in practice, but Kubiak said he’ll let him do it when the Texans work against the Saints starting Wednesday, and then he’ll eventually try it in a preseason game.
Casey said he’s beginning to feel comfortable with the skill and will be ready when Kubiak gives him a chance to do it in a game.
Quarterback Alex Brink rejoined the Texans on Tuesday after being released in June. He’ll work as Houston’s third quarterback while Rex Grossman recovers from a hamstring injury.
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