HOUSTON TEXANS ROOKIE WR JOHN METCHIE III DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver John Metchie III has been diagnosed with Leukemia and is likely to sit out his first season in the league. The former Alabama Crimson Tide alumnus announced Sunday via a statement on the Texans’ Twitter page.
Metchie said “Recently, I was diagnosed with APL (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia), the most curable form of Leukemia. I am currently receiving great medical care, am in good spirits and I expect a recovery at a later point in time.”
“As a result of this diagnosis, I will likely not be playing football this season. My main focus will be on my health and recovery. Thank you in advance for your support and well wishes. I cannot wait to come back stronger than ever. God bless.”
Metchie was drafted by the Houston Texans 44th overall in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, after impressing in college at the University of Alabama. The Houston Texans traded up, sending three picks to the Cleveland Browns, in order to select the Brampton-raised receiver who was a standout player for the Crimson Tide. Metchie won the Jon Cornish Trophy at Alabama – an award given to the top Canadian in NCAA football – a record two times, joining CFL quarterback Nathan Rourke as the only two-time winners.
The 22-year-old receiver was also drafted in the 2022 CFL Draft by the BC Lions, Rourke’s team, in the seventh round (59th overall) before he signed an $8million, four-year contract with the Houston Texans in May.
Metchie established himself in college in 2020 when he became one of Alabama’s top three receivers in his sophomore year, putting up 916 receiving yards on 55 receptions and 6 touchdowns. The Taiwan-born sensation then did one better the following year, recording 1,142 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2021. He, however, would end up tearing his ACL in the 2021 SEC Championship Game in December in which Alabama beat the Georgia Bulldogs 41-24.
According to sports medicine physician, Dr. Jesse Morse, the prognosis for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia is very good with an 80% chance of remission and a 90% chance of cure. This should bode well for the Houston Texans organization and the Texans fans who are hoping to see Metchie hit the field sooner rather than later. The treatment for APL is usually a combination of All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA, Tretinoin, or Vesanoid), Arsenic trioxide (ATO, Trisenox), chemotherapy, and Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin (GO) and Metchie will have the best medical assistance available.
Metchie will most likely hit the field in 2023. He can take solace in the fact that other professional athletes including Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner, and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester were diagnosed with Lymphoma, a form of cancer related to the blood, beat the disease, came back stronger and went on to have successful careers for many years. Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano was also diagnosed with APL during the 2012 season and took a three-month leave of absence in order to receive treatment before he made a return to the sidelines for the Colts’ playoff run.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: University of Alabama. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.