A Long-Awaited Touchdown

Zach Tarrant/ Houston Texans

Despite the disappointing loss the Texans suffered at home in primetime, John Metchie III electrified the NRG crowd, scoring his first NFL touchdown in the regular season and extending the Texans' lead over the Lions to 23-7. Metchie's touchdown was long-awaited.

A Glimpse of a John Metchie III Touchdown

Texans fans got a preview of a John Metchie touchdown during the second week of the preseason against the Giants. Quarterback Case Keenum threw a short three-yard touchdown pass to Metchie, marking his first preseason score. Metchie gave credit to the team for the achievement.

“It felt great,” Metchie said. “I think just as an offense, you’ve got a mission to put the ball in the end zone, so for me, it wasn’t an individual thing. It was collective—we had a successful drive, and we put the ball in the end zone.”

The Emotional Touchdown

The third-year receiver, drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Alabama, overcame a torn ACL early in his career. Unfortunately, Metchie’s challenges didn’t end there; he was later diagnosed with leukemia, causing the young wide receiver to miss his entire rookie season. After a difficult journey, Metchie rejoined the roster in 2023 and made his official NFL debut.

Texans fans erupted in joy when Metchie’s 15-yard touchdown secured a two-score lead, completing a remarkable comeback story. The 6-foot, 195-pound receiver reflected on his emotions after scoring his first NFL touchdown.

“It means a lot, but not more emotional or anything,” Metchie said to the media. “My focus—I’ve kind of put that behind me—and my focus is to help this team win. I know my past is my past and my history is my history, but I live it. It’s not on the forefront of my mind every day. My focus is on what I can do to be the best version of myself and to help my team win.”

Metchie Seizes the Moment

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans praised John Metchie's first NFL touchdown against the Lions and expressed his excitement over Metchie’s contributions to the team.

“He did really well—big time for us,” Ryans said to the media. “Ran a lot of crisp routes, caught the ball, got a lot of YAC, touchdowns. I'm super proud of him and super happy that he's getting his opportunities and showing his worth.”

Metchie finished the game with five receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown against the Lions.