Texans QB CJ Stroud: Everyone knows how 'special' John Metchie can be

With the trade for Stefon Diggs, the Texans are packing marquee talent at wide receiver. But CJ Stroud doesn’t want anyone to lose sight of John Metchie.

Remember Metchie? He’s finally healthy after years of issues. Remember that the former Alabama star tore his ACL in the SEC Championship in December, 2021. The Texans drafted him in the second round of the NFL Draft four months later. Then doctors diagnosed Metchie with leukemia as NFL teams were opening preseason training camps.

And after all that, he strained a hamstring. Metchie saw his first NFL action last fall, but he still only caught 15 passes for 158 yards. He also added three post-season receptions.

Stroud acknowledged Metchie earlier this week as the Texans prepped for the start of voluntary workouts. The quarterback, last season’s NFL offensive rookie of the year, talked about all his receiver options. He made sure to drop Metchie’s name in the conversation.

Metchie missed his rookie season going through cancer treatments while working his way back from a torn ACL at Alabama, and he entered last season with a hamstring injury. Metchie ended up playing 310 offensive snaps in 16 game and caught 16 passes for 158 yards.

“I think last year was good to get his feet back in the water coming off of an injury, then something so traumatic like being sick how he was,” Stroud told reporters. “His mindset is that he’s just ready to come back and ball. Not only is he a great football player, but he’s a great person and I wouldn’t want anybody else other than those guys in that room.”

Stroud added: “Metchie is looking amazing. Everything that he will put on this field will be no surprise, but I think everybody in this room knows how special he can be. And he’ll put that on the field.”

Meanwhile, Stroud will begin building chemistry with Diggs, who spent the past four seasons in Buffalo as Josh Allen‘s top receiver. Like Metchie, the other receivers on the Texans squad are young. Nico Collins, Houston’s third-round pick in 2021, was Stroud’s man guy. Last fall, he caught 80 passes for 1,297 games.

Houston also has Tank Dell, who was a rookie last year. Dell caught 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. His high point came against Arizona last December when he caught eight passes for 148 yards. A week later, he broke his leg in a game against the Broncos.

All the young guys, plus Diggs, should make the Texans passing offense that much stronger. Houston also resigned tight end Dalton Schultz, then added running back Joe Mixon in free agency.

“I think we have a lot of potential,” Stroud said. “A ton of guys who have played a lot of meaningful ball. A lot of guys who can do different things with the ball, which is amazing. With all of those expectations, all the outside noise — right now is the time to focus.”