Texans John Metchie III Might Take 'A Little Bit Longer' To Make Impact

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio was very candid in his evaluation of rookie receiver John Metchie III.

If it weren't for Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, the comeback of Houston Texans rookie receiver John Metchie III would likely be receiving more buzz than it is. The 23-year-old missed the entirety of the 2022 campaign as he both rehabbed an ACL tear in his left knee and battled leukemia. The story of Metchie's perseverance is quite a remarkable one. 

But the former second-round pick is still shaking off some rust as he prepares for the 2023 season, which general manager Nick Caserio acknowledged this week. 

“He’s worked really hard. I’d say he also looks like a player who hasn’t played football in 18 months, so when you miss that amount of time it just sometimes takes maybe a little bit longer," Caserio admitted. "Attitude has been good. He’s been going out there and has made some plays and there’s other plays where he can certainly improve, but for what he’s gone through to get to this point." 

The NFL is ultimately a very cutthroat industry, a reality that Caserio didn't try to hide from when discussing Metchie. 

"It’s a great story like no question about it, but okay now there has to be some kind of tangible football production behind it," Caserio said. "I would say a player like that, there is probably a chance that he’s going to be a little bit better six to eight weeks down the road than maybe he is now."

Before all the trials that life has thrown his way over the last 18 months, Metchie was an excellent collegiate receiver at Alabama. As the No. 2 receiver to Jameson Williams, Metchie caught 96 passes for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns from quarterback Bryce Young during the 2021 season. That -- and the fact that he still went in the second round of the NFL Draft despite suffering the aforementioned torn ACL in December of 2021 -- gives you an idea of how highly thought of Metchie was as a prospect at one point. 

Now it's time for him to begin to stride towards his potential. 

"Love John and love having him here and excited for the opportunity in front of him," Caserio said. "Now it’s going to be about production and what everyone does with those opportunities."