It’s been a long road to the end zone in the NFL for former second-round pick John Metchie III.
He tore his ACL in the SEC Championship Game while at Alabama.
He missed all of his rookie season with acute promyelocytic leukemia.
After entering remission, Metchie contributed lightly during his sophomore season with the Houston Texans.
In the second quarter of Houston’s preseason matchup against the New York Giants, the moment he’s been working for finally arrived.
Metchie, who enters his third season, caught his professional touchdown on a 3-yard pass from quarterback Case Keenum.
LET’S GO 8️⃣
📺: ABC13 pic.twitter.com/yqzwt8KJMi
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 17, 2024
Metchie’s score comes at the right time of the preseason as the receiver room competition heats up as the Texans enter the final week of the preseason. There are two receiver spots left and Metchie’s in the hunt with Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods, Steven Simms and Ben Skowronek.
Metchie had his most productive game as a pro in Houston’s wild-card round victory over the Cleveland Browns, totaling three catches for 44 yards, plus a 9-yard run. He’s provided consistency in practice while establishing himself as a top secondary target in Houston’s receiver rotation.
Despite a strong spring and start to training camp, Metchie has been quiet in the Texans’ first two games with two catches for 11 yards and a drop. He surpassed that stat line on the 12-play, 79-yard drive that ended in his score.
Metchie finished the first half with three catches for 33 yards. He and the Texans will start on offense to begin the third quarter.