John Metchie III makes long-awaited NFL debut for Texans after leukemia battle

John Metchie III made his NFL regular-season debut Sunday for the Houston Texans against the Indianapolis Colts and made his first career reception. Metchie missed last season battling acute promyelocytic leukemia after being drafted in the second round in 2022 by the Texans.

Metchie was cleared in preseason for game action, and had two catches on three targets across three preseason games, but he missed the Texans' opener due to a hamstring injury.

"It was a long time coming of course, but it was surreal and a great feeling to be out there with the team, to be out there with the guys and to be back playing football," Metchie told reporters after his preseason debut. "It’s a good feeling. It’s a really good feeling to see all the support and all the love. Everybody coming up to me and telling me how happy they are to see me back out there. I feel really good, [I’m in] football shape.”

Metchie played for Alabama for three years, including on the 2020 national championship team. He played in 38 career games with the Crimson Tide, totaling 2081 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Metchie tore his ACL in his final game with Alabama, the 2021 SEC Championship Game and missed the 2021 College Football Playoff loss.

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He announced his cancer diagnosis in July 2022. He underwent treatment over the last year and was cleared for full participation in offseason workouts. APL is one of the most curable forms of cancer, but Metchie said there was still some initial doubt over whether he'd be able to return to play.

"The beginning stages, there might've been some doubt, but I've had a strong faith, I had a strong faith then and I have a strong faith now," Metchie said during training camp Aug. 3.

John Metchie III stats in NFL debut

Metchie's faith paid off, and he was active and on the field in his first career NFL game on Sunday. Metchie made the first catch of his NFL career on the last play of the game, a 17-yard reception for a first down. The Texans lost the game 31-20.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: John Metchie leukemia update: Alabama star makes NFL debut for Texans