Texans’ John Metchie III in his NFL debut – ‘Amazing feeling’

HOUSTON — It’s been 652 days since Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III played in a game that counted.

Michie made his NFL debut against the Indianapolis Colts as the Texans (0-2) lost 31-20 on Sunday. He returned to the field after tearing his ACL in 2021 and was diagnosed with leukemia in July 2022, causing him to miss his entire rookie season.

Alabama’s 2022 second-round pick finished with one catch for 17 yards, but the stat line was the least of his concerns as he treasured the moment back on the field.

“It was a great feeling,” Michie told ESPN. “Something I thought about every day in hospital, so it was great to play football there.”

Michie gained a greater appreciation for life and football and described returning to playing after adversity as a “blessing”. But now he is focused on “looking forward.”

“It was a great feeling, but it wasn’t like, ‘Okay, I’m here now.’ Everything is completed. Right? Mitchie said. “It feels good to know that I got tested and then came through on the other side. Now, it’s just about keeping moving forward and keeping ambitious.”

Metchie continues to work his way back into the Texans’ wide receiver rotation as he played in 17.7% of the offensive snaps against the Colts, the lowest among his position group. He’s still shaking off the rust, as the last significant game he played in was on December 4, 2021, when he tore his ACL against the University of Georgia in the SEC Championship game.

But even with the limited footage and production, he doesn’t dwell on the difficulties.

“Those moments I had and the time I had taught me that you can have those things, but only as long as the sun shines [out] Tomorrow and you’re there for it, you’ll be fine. “You have to show up again,” Michie said. “It’s not all or nothing in the sense that, like one loss, it doesn’t mean you’re dead. You just have to show up and learn from your mistakes and keep getting better.”