HOUSTON — Houston Texans rookie wide receiver John Metchie III announced he will likely miss the 2022 season after he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Metchie, 22, a second-round pick of the Texans in the 2022 NFL draft, said he had acute promyelocytic leukemia, the Houston Chronicle reported.
The disease affects about 600 to 800 people annually and typically people around the age of 40, according to the National Organization for Rare Diseases.
In a statement, the former University of Alabama player said he was “in good spirits” and expects to make a full recovery.
“As a result of this diagnosis, I will likely not be playing football this season,” Metchie said. “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.”
An update from John Metchie lll pic.twitter.com/EH6OupXK42
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 24, 2022
APL is an aggressive type of acute myeloid leukemia, where too many immature blood-forming cells, called promyelocytes, are in the blood and bone marrow, according to the National Institutes of Health’s Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. This build-up of promyelocytes leads to a shortage of normal white and red blood cells and platelets in the body, according to the NIH.
The Texans traded three picks to move up in the draft and select Metchie with the 44th pick, AL.com reported. That move was made despite the possibility that Metchie’s pro career would be delayed after he sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the Crimson Tide’s 41-24 victory against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 4, according to the news outlet.
Metchie caught 96 passes for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns for Alabama in 2021, according to Sports-Reference.com. He had 55 catches for 916 yards and six touchdowns in 2020.
The Texans released Metchie’s statement on the day that the team’s rookies reported for their first NFL training camp, the Chronicle reported.
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