A year ago John Metchie couldn’t help the Houston Texans; he was in a battle for his life.
In mid-July 2022, the former Alabama receiver was diagnosed with Houston Texans receiver John Metchie provided advice on what he learned about battling acute promyelocytic leukemia. His rookie season was over before it could begin, and the Texans’ second-round pick had to pivot towards treatments for a cancer of the blood.
Just as athletes watch film of others to take cues and add to their skillset, Metchie took the advice of other patients as he recovered from his illness.
“Yeah, the biggest thing I took away was just show up and fight,” Metchie told reporters Aug. 3 after training camp practice. “We kind of understand and take for granted life and everything we have to do or get to do during a day, but then when it’s taken away from you — whether you’re young or old in the hospital — you kind of realize that people see clearly what’s important to them and who’s important to them, right? Their family, their life, regardless of what they were complaining about or what stresses you have, you realize that the biggest gift you have is your breath and your heartbeat.”
What Metchie discovered is fighting was the common theme for everyone no matter their vital statistics otherwise.
Said Metchie: “The biggest thing I took away is, regardless of age, size, where you came from, everybody had to wake up and fight every day. So, just keeping that and keeping that gratitude at the forefront of your mind for me will always be a good thing.”
Metchie was a full participant in the Texans’ offseason workouts starting in April.
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