Quessenberry’s return trumps all others
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — J.J. Watt stood in front of a crowded room of reporters — flash bulbs going off, video cameras recording.
Everyone waited to hear how the Texans superstar was feeling after being back on the field in the Texans first preseason game on Wednesday night.
He said a few things but turned the attention to something he thought was more important. David Quessenberry. Watt and the rest of the Texans will evaluate Wednesday night — a 27-17 loss to the Panthers. They’ll get back to work at camp and ready themselves for the season. They won’t dwell too much on the preseason game.
They will, however, take a long pause in the midst of everything going on to appreciate something special that happened in the game. Their teammate was back on the field. “That guy’s a warrior,” Watt said. Quessenberry, an offensive lineman, played in an NFL game for the first time since he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin T-lymphoblastic lymphoma three years ago.
Watt was returning to the field after missing last season with a back injury. It’s good that he’s back. The Texans need their star. But he was right when he said
Quessenberry’s return mattered more.
“That’s the biggest return,” Watt said. “That’s by far the biggest story of the day. The guy’s a warrior, he’s a fighter. He’s an inspiration to all of us.
“I think (Quessenberry) deserves every bit of headline and every bit of praise that everybody gives him because he’s a hell of a player and a hell of a guy, and we couldn’t be more proud to have him on our team.”
‘Really special’
The disease required months of intensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy — both of which take a lot out of anyone going through them.
To be able to work out and get back into game shape, go through camp and then play in a game is more than inspiring. It’s miraculous.
Quessenberry stepping on that field Wednesday night gave so much hope to so many going through their own battles with cancer.
It was truly moving to see his return.
Quessenberry said he was more nervous for the game Wednesday than he had ever been for any game he’s ever played in.
“I was nervous for about three days leading up to this,” Quessenberry said. “Before the game, I got really emotional when I saw some of my family out there on the sideline. But once the first play started, it was back to football.”
His teammates and coaches couldn’t hide their excitement for him.
After the game, coach Bill O’Brien grinned when he spoke of the lineman. “It’s really special,” he said. While fans have watched from afar and rooted him on, it’s those on the team and his family that really know what all Quessenberry went through.
“They know everything that I have been through,” he said. “They’ve seen me go through chemo and with no hair. It was good to see 77 back on that jersey and out here. I’m just glad to be playing.”
It wasn’t just good for him to see.
One of the great things about sports and those who play them is the ability to make a difference.
Quessenberry’s battle has touched so many lives — more than he will ever know.
Hope in his recovery
His teammates will overcome adversity better when they think of what he’s been through. His fans will think of him when they are going through times and maybe find the strength to push through.
Someone fighting cancer can look at Quessenberry and find hope in his recovery.
There was a football game Wednesday night, and there was a lot to take in.
Watt was back. The Texans featured new quarterbacks. Rookies saw their first game action.
It was special on a lot a levels for a lot of people involved.
But nothing was as special as Quessenberry returning to the field. Healthy and cancer-free. Watt is right. Quessenberry is a warrior.