HOUSTON (AP) — Following his leukemia prognosis, Houston Texans receiver John Metchie and different sufferers at MD Anderson Most cancers Middle would sit in an observatory gazing out the home windows whereas hooked as much as IVs that delivered their therapy.
Within the distance they may see NRG Stadium, the place the Texans play. Although it was solely about two miles away, Metchie typically questioned if he’d ever get again.
“I’m not going to sit down right here and say no,” he mentioned Thursday in his first public feedback since being identified. “I really feel like in the beginning phases, in fact, you don’t know what’s going to occur. You don’t know what the long run has in retailer for you. You in fact, hope that you could come and play soccer, however I might say most likely the start phases there might need been some doubt.”
However Metchie moved previous these worries due to a robust religion and an awesome assist system comprised of his mother and brothers and soccer household close to and much that included the Texans and Alabama coach Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide teammates.
Metchie was cleared to affix the Texans for coaching camp final week, virtually precisely a 12 months after receiving the prognosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia. He mentioned the most cancers was found when he bought checked out after feeling like he had a chilly and experiencing uncommon complications for every week or two.
A second-round decide within the 2022 draft, he missed his total rookie 12 months battling the illness. Metchie mentioned he’s “110%” now and truly feels higher than he did in faculty.
Although his household was very supportive from afar, he mentioned it was tough to be in Houston for therapy whereas they had been in Canada, the place he grew up.
“There are lots of difficult issues that problem you spiritually, mentally, bodily,” he mentioned. “However essentially the most difficult half was simply coping with it with my household being in a unique nation for essentially the most half. They might come down, however most of my family members had been in a unique nation.”
The Texans hope that Metchie can contribute this season to enhance an offense anticipated to function second total decide C.J. Stroud at quarterback. Metchie has already impressed early in camp by making some eye-popping performs.
“John Metchie’s demeanor hasn’t modified,” coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned. “He’s the identical. He’s constant. He’s optimistic. He’s a tough employee. Each time he’s out at observe, he’s giving the whole lot he has and also you see him after observe doing further, he’s making an attempt to good his craft. So, I’m excited along with his mentality and his work ethic. It’s cool to see.”
It’s a no brainer for the 23-year-old to present the whole lot he has at observe each day after ready so lengthy to get again on the sphere. He mirrored on the primary second he ran out for coaching camp along with his teammates final week.
“It was simply gratitude,” he mentioned. “I used to be actually grateful that day that I used to be simply in a position to come out right here and begin taking part in the sport I like once more fear free. I’m simply in a position to play ball and never have to fret about a lot, simply taking part in ball.”
Metchie had 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior at Alabama in 2021. He hasn’t performed in a sport since tearing a knee ligament within the SEC championship sport on Dec. 4, 2021.
Regardless of his lengthy layoff, he stays assured in his talents and believes he’ll make an influence for the Texans this season.
“I at all times really feel like I’m snug,” he mentioned. “I beat the hardest battle and now residing and being me is sort of simply to be free and be assured in myself and my physique of labor and who I’m. So… in fact there’s a studying curve of studying to play this sport with the group and chemistry and all of that. However so far as consolation in myself and my sport, I’ve that fully.”
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