The 2023 NFL season has hardly started, but the Texans already have the most uplifting addition of the year.
Former Alabama wide receiver and 2022 second-round pick John Metchie III is finally primed to make his NFL debut for the Texans after missing his rookie year as he underwent treatment for leukemia.
Metchie joins a Texans team with some expectations. They have a new quarterback challenging Davis Mills in C.J. Stroud, an elite pass rusher who could make an immediate impact in Will Anderson Jr. (Metchie's former Alabama teammate), and arguably the most sought-after head coach last offseason, former 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.
If Metchie takes the field against the Patriots on Thursday, it will be his first time seeing game action since Dec. 4, 2021. Metchie tore his ACL in the 2021 SEC Championship Game against Georgia on a Bryce Young scramble.
There's a lot of excitement around Metchie, and not just for his story. Metchie was an extremely productive part of a surgical Alabama offense, catching 96 passes in 2021 for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.
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Metchie has been declared as being in remission from his leukemia, which now means it's about getting back onto the field. Here's what to know about the Texans receiver's battle with cancer and what to expect moving forward.
John Metchie III cancer diagnosis
Metchie was diagnosed with cancer in July 2022, a few months after being drafted by the Texans in the second round of the draft.
The receiver was recovering from a torn ACL he'd suffered at the end of the 2021 college football season.
Metchie released a statement after his diagnosis:
"Recently, I was diagnosed with APL (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia), the most curable form of Leukemia," the statement read. "I am currently receiving great medical care, am in good spirits and I expect to make a recovery at a later point in time. As a result of this diagnosis, I will likely not be playing football this season. My main focus will be on my health and recovery. Thank you in advance for your support and well-wishes. I cannot wait to come back stronger than ever. God bless."
Metchie did, indeed, miss the 2022-23 season as he continued to recover.
What kind of cancer did John Metchie III have?
Metchie was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a form of cancer that, as Metchie mentioned in his statement, has a relatively positive prognosis.
According to the NIH, APL "is an aggressive type of acute myeloid leukemia in which there are too many immature blood-forming cells (promyelocytes) in the blood and bone marrow." The symptoms are many and varied, and can include anemia, anorexia, weight loss, and bone pain.
The NIH estimates fewer than 5,000 people in the United States have APL, making it an extremely rare form of leukemia.
Will John Metchie III play in 2023?
The Texans are optimistic Metchie, who is in remission, will make his NFL debut this season.
In May, Yahoo reported Metchie was a full participant in voluntary workouts with the Texans, with GM Nick Caserio giving him a vote of confidence.
"Nobody's worked harder over the last however many months to get himself to this point," Caserio said post-draft, per Yahoo Sports. "So I wouldn't say anybody is surprised that he's arrived at this point. I would say his will to work, his effort, mental and physical toughness, and the work that the sports performance staff has done been incredible. I would say it’s kind of inspiring to see somebody do that. He’s making progress. He’s in a good spot. Haven’t been any setbacks. Still a long road ahead of us, and he hasn’t played a lot of football. We’re all certainly cautiously optimistic about where he’s headed.”
Cautious optimism remains the name of the game for the Texans, but Metchie could be in the Texans' plans going forward.
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How did John Metchie III beat cancer?
If there's a silver lining to the APL diagnosis, it's that as far as diagnoses go the mortality rate is relatively low. Cancer.gov states clinical trials see fewer than 5 percent of patients dying within the first month, while in the field 20-30 percent of patients do not survive the induction therapy process.
Metchie credits his survival to his faith, while attesting to the difficult induction process.
"Especially for my kind of leukemia, which is one of the most curable forms of cancer, but very tough at the beginning," Metchie said, per ESPN. "I was blessed and very grateful to have one of the most curable forms of cancer. As y'all see, I didn't lose my hair and a lot of stuff like that. So, I was very grateful. I'm very blessed for that. But at the very beginning of it, when you're diagnosed, a very tough part, it's the most critical part. You can only rely on your faith in those situations when you're faced with your own mortality."
Metchie went on to talk about the challenges he faced.
"I feel like at the beginning stages, of course, you don't know what's going to happen or what the future has in store for you," Metchie said. "Of course, hope that you can overcome it and play football, but I will probably say the beginning stages. There might have been some doubt."
Metchie also spoke of the hospital staff and patients he went through his treatment with.
"In the hospital, we're all there together, patients and nurses and just everybody that works there," he said after hosting his "hospital family" at NRG Stadium in September last year, per USA Today. "We're all kinda in that same grind together. They helped me adjust. They helped make me comfortable. They helped take care of me. So, it was cool to really be able to bring them to my field and show them what I do."
"Life always deals you a card. It's all about how you respond to it, how you face it."
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 30, 2022
On Monday, John Metchie III surprised his hospital family with a special evening at NRG Stadium to thank them for their support throughout his cancer treatment. pic.twitter.com/dnppQuuAqi
John Metchie III college stats
Looking ahead, Metchie should be a big add for the Texans whenever he does take the field for Houston.
Listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 194 pounds, Metchie was a two-time Jon Cornish Award winner at Alabama as the best Canadian player in college football. The Brampton, Ontario, product won the award in both 2020 and 2021.
| Season | Games | Receptions | Yards | Average | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 5.8 | 0 |
| 2020 | 13 | 55 | 916 | 16.7 | 6 |
| 2021 | 13 | 96 | 1,142 | 11.9 | 8 |
| Totals | 30 | 155 | 2,081 | 13.4 | 14 |
The Texans drafted Metchie 44th overall in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft despite him tearing his ACL in the 2021 SEC Championship Game against Georgia. He was also selected by the CFL's BC Lions 59th overall in Round 7 of the 2022 CFL Draft, but ultimately joined the Texans.
Whatever the Texans are building, Metchie is just happy to be part of it.
"Just gratitude. I think that's pretty much what the whole moment was like, just gratitude. I was really grateful," he said, per ESPN. "That day that I was just able to come here and start playing the game I love again."
The Texans are hoping Metchie can join their receiving room of Robert Woods, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins as soon as possible. Right now, signs are pointing up. Look for a huge ovation when he does take the field, whether it's in Houston or on the road. After all, football fans want great players to play. Things are looking up for Metchie to be able to do so sooner than later.
