John Metchie III’s NFL debut is finally here.
After missing the 2022 season due to a leukemia diagnosis, Metchie made was active for the Texans against the Colts on Sunday for the first time in a regular-season game.
He eventually entered the game, marking his first snap.
Metchie’s return had been delayed due to a hamstring injury, but any lingering concern was put to rest during practice this week.
“I’m extremely excited,” Metchie said earlier this week, per KPRC-TV. “But I can’t get too ahead of myself. I just have to, like I said, be patient. That’s kind of the biggest thing. Although I’m really excited, I got to be patient and ready whenever my number is called.”
Metchie tore his ACL in the 2021 SEC title game while playing for Alabama, but was still drafted 44th overall a few months later.
That July, though, he was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.
Though he was expected to make a recovery, playing football last season was out of the question.
This time around, though, he was ready for training camp, and contributed in the preseason.
He finally got into a game that counts Sunday.
“Patience has definitely been a theme to me, and it’s something I’ve had a lot of practice within the last year,” Metchie told reporters this week. “Of course, it’s knowing I have to remain consistent and keep showing up and time will come. I just have to be ready.”
Metchie rounds out a Houston receiving corps that also features Nico Collins and Robert Woods.
“It’s good having Metchie back out there with us and Metchie has been working hard to get back and he’s put in the work,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters. “We’ll see where he ends up this week, but happy to have him back out there and we’ll see how he progresses throughout the week.”