The receiver we’ve all been waiting for has arrived – finally.
On July 18, 2000 the world welcomed John Metchie III. After bouncing all over the planet with his parents, Metchie found himself in Alabama playing ball for the Crimson Tide. When all was said and done he concluded his collegiate career with 155 receptions for 2,081 yards and 14 touchdowns.
In 2022, Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio handed in the card to select Metchie with the second round, 44th overall pick in the NFL Draft. The hype was thick, the potential grand and a lot of Texans fans thought Caserio hit a homer with this selection.
Unfortunately, Metchie was diagnosed with leukemia the following July, pounding the pause button on his potential rise up the NFL receiver charts. After sitting out his entire rookie season, Metchie was cleared to play in 2023 and had limited game time, accruing 16 catches for 158 yards in the regular season. In the Texans post-season push, Metchie contributed another three catches for 44 more yards.
Fast forward to Saturday’s NFL preseason game pitting the Texans against the New York Giants and Metchie put the planet on notice that he was ready to resume his rise.
Metchie, a third-year pro out of Alabama, caught six passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s win, earning the praise from head coach DeMeco Ryans.
DeMeco Ryans (via SI.com)
I think he did a really nice job today, just catching the football, making some big-time plays for us – It’s exciting to see Metchie make those plays. I think nobody is more fired up than all of his teammates. You see the other receivers and to see their genuine excitement for him when he makes those plays and just the entire team as a whole is pulling for him to do well and he did a really nice job today. That’s why I think you play the preseason games. That’s why you have training camp practices is to see guys continue to grow, get better and shine when the opportunity comes and Metchie had a really nice day today.
Moments after John Metchie III scored a touchdown, check out his Stroud, Diggs, and Tank run out on the field to celebrate with him. pic.twitter.com/jNCLZaLdVB
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) August 17, 2024
It didn’t take long for Metchie to make his mark on Saturday’s game. Looking to cap off a long second quarter drive, veteran quarterback (and former Texans rookie himself) Case Keenum took a snap in shotgun, rolled out and delivered a perfect pass to Metchie for the wideout’s first NFL touchdown.
John Metchie III hit the Crimson Crane after a preseason touchdown: pic.twitter.com/W2Z4QPStNA
— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) August 17, 2024
And with that catch, Metchie put the NFL world on notice that he was ready to continue his journey, hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Texans’ great Andre Johnson, and ultimately land in the Hall of Fame.
But, there’s a lot of football between now and anything like that, so in the meantime, let’s bask in the feel-good-ness of Metchie’s story. One he’s eager to continue writing.
#Texans wide receiver John Metchie III @IiiMetchie reflects on his first #NFL touchdown, journey to overcome so much adversity with his health to get to this point with six catch game @KPRC2 @WME_Sports @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/sJ3oSdIbSB
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 17, 2024