Metchie finished the 2023 regular season with 16 catches (on 30 targets) for 158 yards over 16 games.
For much of the season, which was essentially his rookie year after sitting out 2022 with acute promyelocytic leukemia, Metchie was on the bottom rungs of the depth chart. He got to show himself late in the season when injuries hit and was a big part of the playoff win over Cleveland, but Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans told Jonathan M. Alexander and Dennis Silva II of the Houston Chronicle that Metchie had an inconsistent year. "I think Metchie's had a little up and downs throughout the season, had some opportunities to make plays," Ryans said. "Some moments he made them, some he didn't." One of the organization's goals during the offseason is to build around quarterback C.J. Stroud, and Metchie will need to show consistency to force a move up the depth chart.
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Texans' John Metchie: Good to go Saturday
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Metchie (foot) doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Saturday's divisional-round game against the Ravens.
Metchie, who was listed as limited Tuesday and Wednesday, logged a full practice Thursday, which paves the way for him to face Baltimore. Given that Noah Brown (shoulder) is now on injured reserve, Metchie should have an opportunity to be a key cog in the Texans' WR corps this weekend alongside Nico Collins and Robert Woods (hip). In Houston's wild-card win over Cleveland this past Saturday, Metchie logged a 76 percent snap share while catching all three of his targets for 44 yards.
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Texans' John Metchie: Limited in practice
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Metchie was a limited practice participant Tuesday due to a foot injury.
Metchie played 76 percent of the snaps on offense in Saturday's 45-14 win over Cleveland, taking on a larger than usual role along with Xavier Hutchinson after Noah Brown suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on the opening drive. Assuming the foot issue isn't serious, Metchie could handle a similar role Saturday at Baltimore, though it's also possible Robert Woods (hip) takes on a bigger workload after being limited by an injury of his own in the playoff opener.
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Texans' John Metchie: Three catches against Browns
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Metchie recorded three receptions on three targets for 44 yards in Saturday's 45-14 win over the Browns.
Metchie has seen a boost in role to close the regular season and in the first game of the postseason due to Houston dealing with ongoing injuries to its receiving corps. Noah Brown (shoulder) exited early in the first quarter of Saturday's win and didn't return, allowing Metchie to see three targets for the third time in his last four games. Saturday's production marked his highest yardage total of the campaign, which came primarily from a 27-yard catch late in the first quarter to set up a touchdown two plays later. If Brown remains sidelined for the Texans' divisional-round matchup, Metchie should continue to see an uptick in involvement in the offense.
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Texans' John Metchie: Missing from practice Wednesday
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Metchie didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness.
Metchie was one of three Houston receivers to appear on Houston's initial Week 16 injury report, joining Nico Collins (calf) and Noah Brown (knee). However, the second-year wideout is a step behind Collins and Brown, both of whom opened the week as limited participants. Metchie will still have two more chances to log some practice reps and put himself in position to play this weekend against the Browns.
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Texans' John Metchie: Season-high targets, snaps
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Metchie caught one of five targets for six yards in Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Jets in Week 14.
Metchie saw a season highs in snaps (28) and targets following the loss of Nico Collins to a calf injury early in the first quarter. The Texans were already operating without Tank Dell (lower leg) and Dalton Schultz (hamstring), and the passing game suffered. Xavier Hutchinson (41 snaps) also received an uptick in playing time behind Noah Brown and Robert Woods. Later in the contest, starting quarterback C.J. Stroud entered the NFL's concussion protocol. With injuries impacting the passing offense and the potential of Davis Mills starting in Week 15 against Tennessee, Houston could deploy a run-heavy attack.
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Texans' John Metchie: Two grabs in Week 10
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Metchie caught both his targets for 25 yards in Sunday's 30-27 win over Cincinnati.
Metchie was active after getting knocked out of last week's win over Tampa Bay with injured ribs. Houston's depth wideouts -- Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson -- are getting increased reps while injuries have hit the position, but that may change in Week 11 if Nico Collins (calf) is ready to return. Metchie has caught just nine of 10 targets for 111 yards through eight games this season.
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Texans' John Metchie: Full practice
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Metchie (ribs) was a full practice participant Wednesday.
Metchie made a quick recovery from the rib injury that knocked him out of Sunday's 39-37 win over Tampa Bay. He's spent most of the season as Houston's fourth or fifth wide receiver, seeing limited snaps even when Tank Dell or Robert Woods (toe) has been out of the lineup. Metchie will likely be headed for a light role on offense once again this Sunday at Cincinnati, unless both Woods and Nico Collins (calf) are able to play. Collins was a limited participant Wednesday, while Woods missed another practice.
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Texans' John Metchie: Out for game
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Metchie is out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with a ribs injury.
The wide receiver caught one pass for 14 yards before exiting. Metchie came into the game with six catches for 72 yards and no touchdowns on the season.
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Texans' John Metchie: Season-high snaps in loss
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Metchie caught both of his targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 21-19 loss to the Falcons in Week 5.
Metchie has three consecutive games with two targets and averages 18 yards per game since a return from a hamstring injury that cost him the season opener. The wideout played a season-high 25 snaps due to Tank Dell (concussion) being removed in the second quarter. Should Dell be unavailable in Week 6 against the Saints, Metchie could have an increased role, although Noah Brown (groin) might be ready to come off IR next week as well.
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Texans' John Metchie: Questionable despite full practice
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Metchie (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons, despite logging a full practice Friday.
Metchie being able to practice fully Friday is a good sign after he sat out Thursday's practice due to an illness, but he isn't out of the woods yet. Should Metchie gain clearance to suit up Sunday in Atlanta, he would likely work as Houston's No. 4 wide receiver behind Nico Collins, Robert Woods and Tank Dell.
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Texans' John Metchie: Two catches in win
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Metchie caught both of his targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 37-17 win over the Jaguars.
Metchie played 15 snaps as the No. 4 wideout. He's gotten opportunities in the wake of Noah Brown's groin injury, but rookie Tank Dell isn't losing his grip on a starting role in three-wide sets following a five-catch, 145-yard, one-touchdown performance Sunday. Metchie remains ahead of Houston's other rookie wideout, Xavier Hutchinson, who played only special teams against Jacksonville. Metchie has three catches on three targets for 30 yards in two games this season.
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Texans' John Metchie: Looks to make pro debut Sunday
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Metchie (hamstring) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Colts.
Assuming the Texans choose not to make him a healthy inactive, Metchie is set to make his regular-season debut Sunday after he missed the entire 2022 campaign while battling leukemia and recovering from a torn ACL before then sitting out last week's loss to the Ravens with the hamstring strain. With Noah Brown (groin) on injured reserve earlier this week, both Metchie and rookie Tank Dell will move up a spot on the depth chart behind veterans Nico Collins and Robert Woods.
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Texans' John Metchie: Pro debut delayed again
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Metchie (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Baltimore, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Metchie's long-awaited pro debut will need to wait until at least Week 2 of the current campaign after he was unable to practice Wednesday through Friday due to a hamstring issue, which he's tended to on occasion since at least May. The 2022 second-round pick likely will need to get back on the practice field next week in some capacity in order for the Texans to clear him for their second game of the season Sunday, Sept. 17 against the Colts.
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Texans' John Metchie: Absent from practice Friday
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Metchie (hamstring) remained sidelined for Friday's practice, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
That's a trio of missed practices this week for the sophomore wideout who missed his entire rookie season battling leukemia. Hamstring issues have been his downfall this year, dating back to the offseason. With Metchie likely out for Sunday's date with the Ravens, Nico Collins, Robert Woods, Noah Brown and rookie Tank Dell should be locked into most of the wideout snaps.
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Texans' John Metchie: Not practicing
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Metchie didn't practice Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Metchie has been bothered by his hamstring on and off since at least May, after losing his rookie season to the combination of an ACL tear and a leukemia diagnosis. He's now 21 months removed from the knee injury, but it's not shocking that he's having a tough time staying on the field given all he's had to deal with the past two years. Metchie appears unlikely to play Week 1 at Baltimore and might have to settle for a depth role at receiver whenever he's ready.
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Texans' John Metchie: Likely sitting out Sunday
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Metchie is not expected to play in Sunday's preseason finale against the Saints, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Metchie appeared in each of the Texans' previous two preseason contests, catching two of his three targets for 10 yards in these games. Houston is expected to play the majority of their starters Sunday, including quarterback C.J. Stroud. However, it appears the team doesn't want to risk any potential injuries to Metchie, who missed the entirety of his rookie season while battling leukemia. Either way, the second-round pick's absence could lead to increased opportunities for rookie wideouts Xavier Hutchinson and Tank Dell, the latter of whom is expected to play Sunday after sitting out the previous preseason game with hamstring and back tightness.
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Texans' John Metchie: Gets work on special teams
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Metchie has been fielding kicks on special teams along with his work on offense during training camp, Deepi Sidhu of the Texans' official site reports.
Metchie has participated in all seven days of training camp after missing what would have been his rookie season in 2022 due to a leukemia diagnosis last summer. The wideout reports feeling "110 percent," saying he feels better now than he did in college at Alabama. Once preseason games begin, Metchie's place on the depth chart will become clearer. He currently sits in a pack, along with Noah Brown, Nathaniel Dell and Xavier Hutchinson, behind Nico Collins and Robert Woods. Houston's first preseason game takes place Thursday against New England.
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Texans' John Metchie: Cleared for training camp
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Metchie (hamstring) received medical clearance Wednesday for the start of training camp, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Metchie dealt with a hamstring injury earlier during Houston's offseason program, but he's been given a clean bill of health ahead of camp. Practice reps will be crucial for the 2022 second-round pick, who missed his entire rookie season after being diagnosed with leukemia last July. Now fully healthy, Metchie will get a chance to build chemistry with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and compete for a key role in a wide receiver corps that also houses Robert Woods, Nico Collins, Noah Brown and Nathaniel Dell.
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Texans' John Metchie: Sidelined by hamstring strain
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Metchie is recovering from a hamstring strain and hasn't been participating in offseason practices, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
A 2022 second-round pick, Metchie spent his rookie season on the reserve/non-football illness list after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia last July. He returned healthy for the beginning of Houston's offseason program in April, and the latest report suggests he should be fine for training camp later this summer. Assuming that's the case, Metchie will compete for WR snaps with Robert Woods, Nico Collins (foot), Noah Brown and Nathaniel Dell in a passing game expected to be helmed by 2023 second overall pick C.J. Stroud.
