Battling leukemia, rookie receiver Metchie sends message to Texans
HOUSTON — Before the Houston Texans started camp this week, they received a special message from a member of the team that couldn’t be there.
Rookie receiver John Metchie III, who announced earlier that he’d likely miss the season after being diagnosed with leukemia, addressed the Texans in a video before they started preparations for the season.
Coach Lovie Smith, who was promoted from defensive coordinator this offseason after David Culley was fired, said Friday that he normally opens camp with a speech to the team. But this year he thought it was more important for the guys to hear from Metchie first.
“We had a lot of questions about what’s going on with his health,” Smith said. “So, I let him talk to the football team to let them know what he has in store for this year and how it will affect our football team.”
Metchie said Sunday that he was recently diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The second-round pick from Alabama said he was taking time off from football to focus on his health and recovery.
Smith didn’t provide specifics about what the 22-year-old Metchie shared with the team but said that teammates and coaches alike were moved by his words.
No decision this week on Watson discipline
The wait for a decision on potential discipline for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson following accusations of sexual misconduct will continue into another week.
Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that retired judge
Sue L. Robinson is not issuing a ruling Friday on Watson’s disciplinary hearing that concluded a month ago. They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.
Watson was accused of sexual harassment and assault by 24 massage therapists in Texas and has settled 20 of the civil lawsuits filed against him. Four lawsuits remain pending and the attorney representing the women has said he hopes to take them to trial sometime next spring.
Gallup won’t be ready for Cowboys’ opener
Michael Gallup acknowledged he won’t be ready for the start of the 2022 season as he’s still recovering from an offseason knee surgery.
The Cowboys wide receiver tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee in the second-to-last regular season game, Jan. 2, against Arizona while catching a touchdown pass.
A person with knowledge of
the surgery said the MCL healed before surgery but the ACL needed repair. For the last two days in Cowboys’ training camp, Gallup has rehabbed in cleats, the first time the athletic trainers have allowed that, specifically Britt Brown, the Associate Athletic Trainer/director of Rehabilitation.
Odds and ends
The Arizona Cardinals on Thursday removed the “independent study” clause from the contract extension signed by quarterback Kyler Murray, saying it had created a “distraction” as the team began its preparations for the 2022 regular season. … Defensive end Chase Young is still nursing a torn ACL in his right knee, will not be ready to play Week 1 for the Washington Commanders, coach Ron Rivera confirmed Friday. … Former Washington defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, the franchise’s all-time sacks leader, announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons.