It looks like David Quessenberry's going to have to wait at least one more year until he finally plays in his first NFL game.
The offensive lineman was released by the Texans on Tuesday after spending three years with the team. However, it wasn't a normal three years by NFL standards: The 2013 draft pick was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin T-lymphoblastic lymphoma in June 2014.
Due to the cancer, Quessenberry spent most of the 2014 season undergoing chemotherapy. The treatments turned out to be a success, because by the time February 2015 rolled around, the cancer was in remission.
The offensive lineman didn't get to play in 2015 though, because the Texans wanted him to spend the seasons getting healthy.
After two seasons on the sideline, the 25-year-old had high hopes that 2016 would finally be the year he saw some game action.
"I feel excellent," Quessenberry told the Houston Chronicle in early May. "I can't wait. I feel strong. I feel fast. I feel explosive. It's the best I've felt in a long time. I can't wait to get out there. It will be a good year."
Unfortunately, Quessenberry's debut won't come this year, because he still has several lymphoma treatments left.
"It was just a matter of thinking about how many treatments he had left relative to August, September, October," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said on Tuesday. "Putting him out on the practice field wasn't going to be able to be done this year."
O'Brien did add that he'd like to see Quessenberry back on the Texans roster.
"We want him to fully attack and beat cancer, which he will do, and then get him back on the 90-man roster at some point in 2017," O'Brien said.
If Quessenberry clears waivers, Houston could re-sign him and add him to their non-football injury/illness list.
The former sixth-round pick has yet to play a down in the NFL. During his rookie year in 2013, Quessenberry was placed on injured reserve after suffering a foot injury.
Despite the fact that Quessenberry hasn't played a football game since 2012, O'Brien still thinks the lineman can make a comeback.
"If anybody can [come back and play], it's David Quessenberry. He's a driven, driven, guy. He has a passion for football," O'Brien said.
