HOUSTON– The connections. The emotions. The understanding of what John Metchie III went through to return to football, and regain a regular, healthy life.
Every idea crossed Texans coach DeMeco Ryans’ mind as the team faced the tough choice of trading the former Alabama star and second-round selection.
The Texans sent Metchie to the Philadelphia Eagles in return for experienced tight end Harrison Bryant.
A former national champion with the Crimson Tide and an All-Southeastern Conference honoree, Metchie was once awarded the Ed Block Courage Award for his motivating return following a diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia, which caused him to miss his entire rookie season while receiving treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
It made sense from a football perspective for the Texans to move forward, as they had a strong group of wide receivers and required additional support at the tight end position following season-ending knee injuries to Brevin Jordan and Dalton Keene.
What about the emotions of the instant? That’s what made it challenging.
Trading Metchie wasn’t simple, I truly have a lot of affection and connection for Metchie,” Ryans stated. “All that he has experienced throughout his professional career. The challenges he had to face and push through and conquer, I really admire the person he is. He’s an inspiration to me, and an inspiration to many people who have seen what he was able to go through, overcome, and return to playing football.
This camp, I felt Metchie was in his best shape. He’s doing a great job of getting ready, putting himself in a strong position. He’s done everything we requested, handled everything properly. It’s disappointing to lose him, but I know he’s moving on to a great opportunity in Philly. He’ll keep growing, and he’ll succeed in Philly because Metchie has the right attitude.
Metchie recorded a team-high five receptions for 45 yards on eight targets in the preseason’s first game against the Minnesota Vikings, highlighting his abilities. The San Francisco 49ers had also shown interest in Metchie, according to sources, but the Eagles’ offer was more favorable. Metchie was aware that he might be traded and said farewell to several teammates during and after a preseason matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Metchie, who recorded 24 receptions for 254 yards and one touchdown during the previous season, has been performing well during training camp. He recently outmaneuvered All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. to score two touchdowns in a red-zone drill.
The agreement also includes a trade of a third-day draft pick, with the Texans obtaining a 2026 fifth-round selection from Philadelphia in return for a 2026 sixth-round pick, according to reports. This draft choice was originally sent to Philadelphia as part of the deal that brought safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the team, along with former first-round guard Kenyon Green.
Bryant, 27, stands at 6 feet 5 inches and weighs 243 pounds. He was selected in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns and played for Florida Atlantic. Throughout his career, he has accumulated 98 receptions for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
During his time in college, he accumulated 149 career receptions, totaling 2,137 yards and 16 touchdowns. He caught nine passes for 86 yards over 13 games, including three starting appearances.
In 2022, Bryant recorded a career-high 31 receptions, accumulating 239 yards and one touchdown while playing for the Browns.
In a 45-14 playoff victory by the Texans against the Browns during Ryans’ initial season, Bryant made a 47-yard reception on a pass from Joe Flacco.
Seeing Harrison, he made a few plays against us when he was with the Browns,” Ryans said. “He made a significant play against us. So you see a player who is very capable of making big plays. Very excited to add him to our team and let him join our group.
Bryant finds himself in a tough competition, vying right away with Irv Smith Jr. and Luke Lachey for the third tight end position behind Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover.
Harrison will enter and compete,” Ryans stated. “We have several strong tight ends, so we’re eager to see him step in and challenge. He has good speed. He competes right at the line of scrimmage. I’m looking forward to seeing what he accomplishes here over the next week.
Veteran cornerback Damon Arnette Jr. reached his lowest point during his time away from the NFL, facing personal challenges and several legal troubles.
Arnette has put in consistent effort to tackle those challenges and has adopted a sober lifestyle. This is a significant transformation, even more so than his performance on the field.
Arnette recorded an interception against the Carolina Panthers and is putting his strongest effort forward to secure a position on the 53-player roster. Should he not make the Texans, it’s anticipated that there will be attention from across the NFL, including the 49ers, Green Bay Packers, and Indianapolis Colts.
This opportunity has been welcomed by Arnette.
It’s incredible,” Arnette said to KPRC 2. “Thankful.
And the Texans, including Ryans, have acknowledged how Arnette has embraced this chance.
Damon has been very appreciative of the chance to come back to the NFL, and we’re thankful to provide him with that opportunity,” Ryans said. “I believe we all need that next opportunity. To offer it to him, and he’s made the most of it. He’s accomplished some impressive things for us, not just during the game by taking the ball away, but also in practice.
He’s improved at getting back into the rhythm of how things work at this level. He has the physical abilities required to play cornerback at this level. He just needs to continue refining his technique and the basic fundamentals we’re asking him to focus on. But he’s done a great job. I’m satisfied with his progress.
Film review
Ryan was impressed with what he saw against the Panthers, particularly the resilience his team showed.
The rushing game was going downward, particularly for Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks.
The defense targeted Bryce Young, who completed zero of his two passes, was sacked once, and gained two rushing yards.
After revisiting and analyzing the game, what really caught my attention was how we played complementary football,” Ryans said. “We played a tough style of football. We played the kind of game that I enjoy seeing us play. We were physical. We were moving quickly. The players were enjoying themselves while playing the game, and that’s what I like to see.
Joint training session on Thursday in Motown
The Texans will conduct two training sessions in Houston prior to traveling to Detroit for a combined practice with the Lions on Thursday morning, in preparation for their third and last preseason match on Saturday at Ford Field.
The Lions, led by coach Dan Campbell, are among the top teams in the league. They beat the Texans last year even though quarterback Jared Goff was picked off five times.
We’re enthusiastic about the chance,” Ryans stated. “It’s a strong football team. For us, it’s simply about keeping improving. We’ll have the opportunity to face a different system and different players. How do we react against this team?
They were among the best teams in the NFL last season, so we have the opportunity to face off against a strong and talented team and see how we perform. I’m looking forward to seeing how our players perform in Detroit.
Nick Caley’s progression
Texan’s offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who took over from Bobby Slowik, has been calling the plays for two games.
Early reviews have been favorable, featuring his deceptive play where he signaled for a touchdown pass from Davis Mills against the Minnesota Vikings.
In the game against the Panthers, quarterback C.J. Stroud led a sharp second drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins.
Caley directed plays from the sidelines on Saturday, following a previous role calling plays from the broadcast booth in Minnesota.
It’s crucial during preseason games and for new play callers,” Ryans stated. “You have to experience that process. You have to go through game day. Training camp is about repetition for everyone. It’s repetition for the players, repetition for the coaches, and repetition for the officials. Everyone needs repetitions in training camp. It’s vital for everyone.
I believe Caley has performed exceptionally well, especially during the first two weeks of calling the plays, ensuring they are executed on time and that he is fully aligned with the quarterbacks. Everyone is in agreement. Therefore, I’m very satisfied with our current progress. We’ve experienced a smooth transition with him directing the plays. The players know what to anticipate. They can move quickly in and out of the huddle. So, I’m optimistic about our current position.
Aaron Wilson contributes to Sports Talk 790.
