Wide receiver John Metchie III’s numbers were modest in the Houston Texans’ 45-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the AFC playoffs on Saturday – three receptions for 44 yards and one rushing attempt for 9 yards.

But they represented the best game of his cancer-delayed NFL career.

The former Alabama standout was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia about three months after joining the Texans as a second-round choice in the NFL Draft. The illness and its treatment caused Metchie to miss the entire 2022 season.

“I think Metchie has had little up-and-downs throughout the season,” Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said about the wide receiver’s 2023 campaign. “Had some opportunities to make plays. Some moments he made them, some he didn’t. But what a moment for him this past game, for him to come up with a couple of big catches there, run after catch. Really am proud of him for his journey and all that he’s been through.

“No one’s been through it tougher than him. And for him to show the resolve to continue to push, continue to fight to get better at his craft — day in and day out, nobody works on their craft harder than Metchie. And it was good to see the success come from it in our first playoff game, so very happy. I know our entire team was happy to see him make some plays for us to put us in position to score.”

Metchie’s first catch against Cleveland gained 27 yards to put the Texans at the Browns 19-yard line. The longest reception of Metchie’s career set up a TD as Houston took a 10-7 lead with 11 seconds left in the first quarter.

During the 2023 regular season, Metchie had 16 receptions for 158 yards and ran once for 4 yards. In 16 games, he played 310 offensive snaps – 29 percent of the Texans’ total.

But in the first-round playoff game, Metchie played 76 percent of Houston’s offense snaps, a career high and the fourth game in a row that his rate of participation increased.

Houston drafted Metchie after he had caught 151 passes for 2,085 yards and 14 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Alabama.

The Texans knew he might not start his pro career on time. Metchie had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his final game for the Crimson Tide – a 41-24 victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 5, 2021.

But the Texans didn’t bargain on Metchie missing the whole season, which he did after his cancer diagnosis in July 2022.

According to the National Institutes of Health’s Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, acute promyelocytic leukemia occurs when “there are too many immature blood-forming cells (promyelocytes) in the blood and bone marrow. This buildup of promyelocytes leads to a shortage of normal white and red blood cells and platelets in the body. The signs and symptoms of APL include an increased risk both to bleed and form blood clots. Individuals may also experience excessive tiredness, pain in affected areas, loss of appetite and weight loss.”

Metchie overcame the disease, but his preparations for the 2023 season were hampered by a hamstring injury that caused him to miss part of the on-the-field work during the Texans’ offseason program.

A hamstring injury also kept him from practicing for Houston’s opening contest, and he was designated as a game-day inactive before the Texans’ 25-9 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 10. But he’s played in every game since, reaching two receptions in three games with a high of 25 yards for his best marks until Saturday’s game.

“Looking back now, I’m grateful,” Metchie said. “I’m extremely grateful and blessed. Of course, I played a lot of football before that. And then that happened, and it was taken away from you a little bit, and you get to come back to the sport you love to play and get to do it every day as a job. And so I think just gratitude would probably be the biggest word.”

Metchie is the Texans’ Ed Block Courage Award winner for the 2023 season. The award is presented annually by each NFL team to a player who is recognized by his teammates for his courage and inspiration.

“It means a lot, just being recognized by my teammates for all the things I’ve overcome in these past few years,” Metchie said, “so it means a lot, especially when it comes from the guys you spend every day with. When it comes from fans or other people that don’t know you, it’s different. But when it comes from the guys you spend every day with and that really know the struggle and work you put in or the things that you go through, it means a lot.”

The Texans take on the Baltimore Ravens at 3:30 p.m. CST Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore in the game of the NFL postseason’s Divisional Weekend. The winner advances to the AFC Championship Game.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.