McClain: Metchie’s coming-out party against Giants was his most impressive performance as a Texan

If you were trying to project the Texans’ 53-man roster last week, chances are you were leaving off third-year wide receiver John Metchie III or, at best, putting him on the practice squad, assuming he would clear waivers.

This week, it’s safe to say Metchie is part of your 53-man projection, right?

How can he not be after his coming-out party in the 28-10 victory over the New York Giants in the Texans’ third preseason game and their first at NRG Stadium?

After catching two passes for 11 yards in the first two preseason games against Chicago and Pittsburgh, Metchie erupted against the Giants, catching a team-high six passes for 68 yards (11.3 average), including a 3-yard touchdown reception from Case Keenum.

After Metchie scored the touchdown that gave the Texans a 14-7 lead in the second quarter, his teammates congratulated him and celebrated as if they’d just clinched a playoff berth. And with good reason considering what Metchie had to endure since being a second-round pick in 2022 — a torn ACL in his last game at Alabama and a diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia as a rookie.

I expect the Texans to keep six wide receivers and three tight ends. After Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell, they still have eight receivers on the roster. It says here the other three will be Metchie, Noah Brown and Xavier Hutchinson.

Keep in mind that 16 players can be signed to the practice squad after they clear waivers. Head Coach DeMeco Ryans and Executive Vice President/General Manager Nick Caserio know they’re not going to be able to put Metchie on the practice squad even if that was possible last week. It’s not now, not after Metchie’s performance against the Giants showed the NFL where he is physically and what he’s capable of achieving.

Ryans doesn’t like discussing the roster, but he does like talking about Metchie’s amazing perseverance and the way he played against the Giants.

“He did a really nice job catching the football (and) making some big-time plays,” Ryans said Saturday. “It’s exciting to see Metchie make those plays. Nobody’s more fired up than his teammates. You see the other receivers and their genuine excitement for him when he makes those plays and (see) the entire team as a whole pulling for him to do well.

“That’s why you play the preseason games. That’s why you have training camp practices — to see guys continue to get better and shine when the opportunity comes. Metchie had a really nice day.”

Metchie is a good route runner and a fierce blocker, and, obviously, he has a tremendous work ethic. That’s one reason he’s so respected by his teammates. When he ran a tremendous route on the goal line and showed quick, sure hands on the perfect touchdown pass from Keenum, some of his teammates mobbed him.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud, who played the first quarter and completed 7-of-10 passes for 88 yards, reacted like Metchie’s personal cheerleader. Stroud ran on the field to greet Metchie as he was coming to the sideline.

“He’s a great friend of mine, somebody I have a lot of love for,” Stroud said. “I’m really excited for him. Metchie’s been working really hard. It’s exciting to see him able to put all his talent on display. I think he’s going to be a great addition to our team to have him fully healthy and feeling back in football shape.”

After recovering from the knee injury he suffered in Alabama’s SEC Championship Game after the 2021 season and being declared cancer free, Metchie was able to play a reserve role last season.

In his last year at Alabama, Metchie caught 96 passes for 1,142 yards (11.1 average) and eight touchdowns. Caserio made him the 44^th player selected in the draft. After being forced to sit out his rookie year, Metchie played in 16 games in 2023, producing 16 receptions for 158 yards (9.9) and no touchdowns.

In the wild card victory over Cleveland, Metchie had three receptions for 44 yards (14.7) and carried once for 9 yards. In the offseason, the Pro Football Writers of America voted him the organization’s annual George Halas Award for overcoming adversity and succeeding.

Metchie worked hard in the offseason program and training camp. He didn’t stand out in the first two preseason games. On Saturday, though, he showed why Caserio invested such a high pick in him.

With the score 7-7, Metchie caught passes from Keenum for 19 and 15 yards for first downs and topped it off with the touchdown reception – three catches for 37 yards to gain a lead the Texans never surrendered. In the second half, Metchie had catches of 11, 5 and 15 yards.

Metchie’s coaches and teammates will be watching him closely in Thursday’s joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams before they close out preseason at NRG Stadium on Saturday.

“I’m really excited for him,” Stroud said, “and it’s only just beginning for him.”