Texans WR John Metchie Has 'Made Significant Progress' In Recovery

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio says wide receiver John Metchie has made significant progress amid his battle with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.

HOUSTON — Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III missed his entire rookie campaign in 2022 due to a diagnosis of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. The news came amid Metchie's ongoing ACL rehab after he sustained the injury during the 2021 SEC Championship Game.

Metchie will have to overcome a pair of rough obstacles before starting his career. But according to general manager Nick Caserio, Metchie has made "a lot of progress" over the past 10 months. 

"He’s made significant progress.," Caserio said via Sports Radio 610. "I think the spring is about making sure that a player is physically ready to go for what he’s able to do on the field. 

"Ultimately the most important thing is for a player to be ready for training camp. So, I’d say John has definitely made a lot of progress and is in a pretty good spot, and we’ll see how much progress he can continue to make here over the course of the spring."

Caserio and the Texans drafted Metchie in the second round (pick no. 44) of the 2022 NFL Draft from Alabama. 

He had established himself as arguably the top wide receiver in the SEC in 2021, where he helped Alabama to a 13-2 record in his final season with 96 catches for a career-best 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns. He played two of his three seasons alongside NFL draft prospect Bryce Young.

Adding Metchie back should help improve Houston's subpar wide receiver corps in 2023. Despite the loss of Brandin Cooks, Metchie would be joining a revamped position group following the additions of Noah Brown and Robert Woods.

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