The name John Metchie III probably rings a bell for Bears fans who were obsessively following the pre-draft process last spring.
Metchie, 22, was a top receiver prospect who mock drafts had going to Chicago at various times ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. And even though he was chosen by the Texans, I was looking forward to seeing his development. After all, Metchie was a dynamic and fun player to watch at Alabama.
Unfortunately, Metchie has been diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia — which he believes will likely keep him from playing during his rookie season. More from Metchie via a statement released by the team:
My heart breaks for Metchie. The Texans rookie was a second-round pick (44th overall) by Houston in the 2022 NFL Draft. A prized prospect who was a second-team All-SEC performer lat season, Metchie was already recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in the SEC Championship Game. Had it not been for the injury, Metchie was seen by many draftniks as a virtual lock to go in Round 1. Because prior to the injury, Metchie put up 96 catches, 1,142 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns. His star was looking like it was on the rise.
But now, Metchie faces another medical hurdle. He will turn his focus to overcoming his Leukemia diagnosis — which means it is probable he’ll sit out this football season. What a bummer for him. We’ll be rooting for Metchie’s health as he goes through this.