HOUSTON — Following his leukemia diagnosis, Houston Texans receiver John Metchie and other patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center would sit in an observatory gazing out the windows while hooked up to IVs that delivered their treatment.
In the distance they could see NRG Stadium, where the Texans play. Though it was only about two miles away, Metchie sometimes wondered if he’d ever get back.
“I’m not going to sit here and say no,” he said Thursday in his first public comments since being diagnosed. “I feel like at the beginning stages, of course, you don’t know what’s going to happen. You don’t know what the future has in store for you. You of course, hope that you can come and play football, but I would say probably the beginning stages there might have been some doubt.”
But Metchie moved past those worries thanks to a strong faith and a great support system comprised of his mom and brothers and football family near and far that included the Texans and Alabama coach Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide teammates.
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Metchie was cleared to join the Texans for training camp last week, almost exactly a year after receiving the diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia. He said the cancer was discovered when he got checked out after feeling like he had a cold and experiencing unusual headaches for a week or two.
A second-round pick in the 2022 draft, he missed his entire rookie year battling the disease. Metchie said he is “110%” now and actually feels better than he did in college.
Though his family was very supportive from afar, he said it was difficult to be in Houston for treatment while they were in Canada, where he grew up.
“There are a lot of challenging things that challenge you spiritually, mentally, physically,” he said. “But the most challenging part was just dealing with it with my family being in a different country for the most part. They would come down, but most of my loved ones were in a different country.”
The Texans hope that Metchie can contribute this season to improve an offense expected to feature second overall pick C.J. Stroud at quarterback. Metchie has already impressed early in camp by making some eye-popping plays.
“John Metchie’s demeanor hasn’t changed,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s the same. He’s consistent. He’s positive. He’s a hard worker. Whenever he’s out at practice, he’s giving everything he has and you see him after practice doing extra, he’s trying to perfect his craft. So, I’m excited with his mentality and his work ethic. It’s cool to see.”
It’s a no-brainer for the 23-year-old to give everything he has at practice every day after waiting so long to get back on the field. He reflected on the first moment he ran out for training camp with his teammates last week.
“It was just gratitude,” he said. “I was really grateful that day that I was just able to come out here and start playing the game I love again worry free. I’m just able to play ball and not have to worry about much, just playing ball.”
Metchie had 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior at Alabama in 2021. He hasn’t played in a game since tearing a knee ligament in the SEC championship game on Dec. 4, 2021.
Despite his long layoff, he remains confident in his abilities and believes he’ll make an impact for the Texans this season.
“I always feel like I’m comfortable,” he said. “I beat the toughest battle and now living and being me is kind of just to be free and be confident in myself and my body of work and who I am. So… of course there’s a learning curve of learning to play this game with the team and chemistry and all of that. But as far as comfort in myself and my game, I have that completely.”
Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III gives autographs to fans after the NFL football team’s training camp Sunday, July 30, 2023, in Houston.
BRIEFLY
TITANS: Being ejected from consecutive training camp practices cost Tennessee offensive lineman Jamarco Jones his job.
The Titans announced the roster move just over three hours after Jones did not finish Thursday morning’s practice. He was dismissed following a blindside block on linebacker Chance Campbell.
Jones was sent off the field after a brief skirmish Tuesday with two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. Titans coach Mike Vrabel said the block was not clean and not how they want to practice because that would be a penalty in a game. Vrabel listed Jones a contender to start at right tackle when they reported for camp.
COWBOYS: Quarterback Dak Prescott and cornerback Trevon Diggs went viral with some trash talking during Dallas’ training camp. Prescott is amused by the reaction of pundits and fans to something he encourages and often starts himself.
Diggs is being criticized for disrespecting the leader of his team. He said to “stay out of our business” and that he has the utmost respect for Prescott.
The issue arose when Prescott scrambled toward a pylon in an 11-on-11 drill at practice. The question was whether the star QB scored. Diggs had an expletive-laced message for Prescott after the play ended.
SEAHAWKS: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Wednesday it will not pursue charges against Seattle quarterback Geno Smith, who was arrested in January 2022 for investigation of driving under the influence.
Prosecutors said Smith’s blood alcohol level was at .038, less than half the legal limit of .08. Prosecutors added that Smith’s THC concentration was 2.6, below the level of 5 needed to prove driving under the influence.
Smith was pulled over on Jan. 10, 2022, after the Seahawks returned home from their final game of the regular season in Arizona.
FALCONS: Second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder is key to Atlanta’s hopes for a winning season. Ridder has impressed teammates, coaches and management with his leadership in training camp after making only four starts last season as a rookie.
An experienced offensive line, the addition of rookie running back Bijan Robinson to an already strong running game, and the return of tight end Kyle Pitts from a knee injury are all reasons for optimism on offense — if Ridder can flourish in his first full season as the starter.
GIANTS: Sixth-round draft pick Tre Hawkins has been one of the early surprises for New York in training camp. The cornerback from Old Dominion has been taking snaps at times with the first-team defense in the regular formations and in the nickel situations.
Coordinator Wink Martindale has also experimented using Hawkins and first-round draft pick Deonte Banks on the outside in the nickel situations and having veteran Adoree’ Jackson play in the slot.
RAIDERS: Josh Jacobs’ absence in training camp has created opportunities for Las Vegas’s other running backs to show they should be a major part of the rotation this season. They better take advantage of it.
Coach Josh McDaniels shot down the notion the Raiders likely would go with a more equitable distribution of carries even if the NFL’s leading rusher last season is back in the lineup. Jacobs is sitting out after not agreeing to a long-term contract.
49ERS: Brandon Aiyuk’s time in coach Kyle Shanahan’s dog house is firmly in the past. The way San Francisco’s offense has looked so far in training camp with Aiyuk outshining higher-profile teammates every day, he appears ready to have a breakout season and fulfill his offseason promise of having his career “take off.”
BEARS: Veteran edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue has agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million contract, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told The AP on Thursday night. Ngakoue, a Pro Bowl pick in 2017 with the Jaguars, bolsters the league’s worst pass rush. The Bears had only 20 sacks in 2022. Ngakoue had 9 1/2 sacks last season for the Colts and 10 in 2021 for the Raiders.
