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After being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), wide receiver John Metchie III sat out his rookie season with the Houston Texans. It was a massive setback for a rebuilding squad that had their last winning record, division title, and playoff appearance in 2019.
The Texans hoped that Metchie could bring more firepower to their struggling offense. After all, he finished his final year at Alabama with 96 receptions, 1,146 yards, and eight touchdowns. He became a 2021 Second Team All-SEC because of those numbers. Without him, Houston ranked 25th in passing yards (196.7) and 31st in points (17) per game last season.
Heading into 2023, will Metchie be able to participate in training camp?
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John Metchie III May Participate In His First-Ever NFL Training Camp
During a recent press conference, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans shared that Metchie III is doing well enough to be in their offseason program. While the team will remain cautious about his condition, they will still find ways to improve his game. They don’t want to push him too hard because he is also coming off an ACL injury.
Metchie III can attend training camp in late July if his steady recovery continues. It remains to be seen if he will have to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp in May given that he is technically a first-year player.
There’s some good news regarding Metchie’s condition. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society categorizes APL as a highly curable form of leukemia, with cure rates reaching 90 percent. This information gives hope that he can finally get back on track and get more acquainted with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s system.
An Intriguing Variable To Houston’s Up-And-Coming Offense
The Texans hope Metchie will be ready to play in the 2023 NFL season and contribute to a revamped offensive unit. They traded Brandin Cooks to the Dallas Cowboys for two late-round picks. Cooks was their top receiver last season with 699 yards and three touchdowns. He also ranked 49th among all wide receivers with 145.6 fantasy points last season.
Houston also signed Robert Woods, who had 527 yards and two touchdowns for the Tennessee Titans in 2022. He ranked 59th among all wideouts with 115.7 fantasy points. They’ve also added former Cowboy Noah Brown, who finished with 555 yards, three touchdowns, and 114.5 fantasy points.
However, their explosiveness on offense will improve with Metchie on board. If the Texans draft a quarterback with the second pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, he will have a talented group to work with, especially if Metchie will line up during games.
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