HOUSTON – The relationships. The sentiment. The knowledge of what John Metchie III had endured to play football again, and resume a normal, healthy life.
All of those thoughts went through Texans coach DeMeco Ryans’ mind when the team made the difficult decision to trade the former Alabama standout and second-round draft pick.
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The Texans traded Metchie to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for veteran tight end Harrison Bryant.
A former national champion for the Crimson Tide and All-Southeastern Conference selection, Metchie is a former Ed Block Courage award winner for his inspirational comeback after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and missing his entire rookie season being treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Moving on made sense from a football standpoint as far as the Texans being loaded at wide receiver and needing reinforcements at tight end after season-ending knee injuries sustained by Brevin Jordan and Dalton Keene.
What about the feelings of the moment? That’s what made it tough.
“Trading Metchie was not easy to do, I really have a lot of love and affinity for Metchie,” Ryans said. “Everything that he’s been through in his professional career. The things he had to battle through and push through and overcome, I’m very fond of the guy. He’s an inspiration to myself, inspiration to a lot of people to see what he was able to go through, overcome and get back to playing football.
#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on the emotions of trading wide receiver John Metchie III to #Eagles @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/pYPHqaNxnZ
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 19, 2025
“This camp, I thought Metchie looked the best he’s looked. He’s doing a really nice job of preparing himself, putting himself in a really good spot. He’s done everything we’ve asked, did everything the right way. It hurts to lose him, but I know he’s going on to a really good opportunity there in Philly. He’ll continue to flourish, and he’ll thrive in Philly because Metchie has the right mindset.”
Metchie caught a team-high five passes for 45 yards on eight targets in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings in what amounted to a showcase of his skills. The San Francisco 49ers were also interested in Metchie, per sources, but the Eagles’ offer was superior. Metchie was aware of the likelihood he would be traded and said goodbye to several teammates during and after a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
Metchie, who caught 24 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown last season, was having a solid training camp. He recently beat All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. for a pair of touchdown in a red-zone drill.
The deal also involves a swap of third-day draft selection with the Texans acquiring a 2026 fifth-round pick from Philadelphia in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round selection, per sources. The draft pick is their original selection sent to Philadelphia as part of the trade for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson with former first-round guard Kenyon Green.
Bryant, 27, is a 6-foot-5, 243-pound former Cleveland Browns fourth-round draft pick from Florida Atlantic who has caught 98 career passes for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns. He spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders
In college, he caught 149 career passes for 2,137 yards and 16 touchdowns. catching nine passes for 86 yards in 13 games and three starts.
In 2022, Bryant caught a career-high 31 passes for 239 yards and one score for the Browns.
In a 45-14 playoff win by the Texans over the Browns in Ryans’ first season, Bryant had a 47-yard catch on a Joe Flacco pass.
“Seeing Harrison, he made some plays against us when he was with the Browns,” Ryans said. “He made a big play versus us. So you see a guy who’ve very capable of making plays. Very excited to just add him to our roster and let him get in our room.”
Bryant is in a competitive situation, battling immediately with Irv Smith Jr., and Luke Lachey for the third tight end spot behind Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover.
“Harrison will come in and compete,” Ryans said. “We have a lot of good tight ends, so we’re excited to see him just pop in and compete. He can run well. He competes at the line of scrimmage. I’m excited to see what he does here over the next week.”
Arnette makes his move
Veteran corner Damon Arnette Jr. hit rock bottom during his absence from the NFL, dealing with personal issues and multiple legal problems.
Arnette has worked diligently to address those complications and embracing sobriety. It’s a life change more so even than what he’s doing on the field.
Arnette had an interception against the Carolina Panthers and is making his best case for a spot on the 53-man roster. If he doesn’t make the Texans, there’s expected to be interest around the NFL, including the 49ers, Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts.
This second chance has been embraced by Arnette.
“It’s amazing,” Arnette told KPRC 2. “Grateful.”
And the Texans, including Ryans, have recognized how Arnette has approached this opportunity.
“Damon has been very thankful of the opportunity to be able to return to the NFL and we’re grateful to give him that opportunity,” Ryans said. “I think we all need that next chance. To be able to give him that, he’s taken it and he’s ran with it. He’s done some really nice things for us not only in the game, taking the football away, but also in practice.
“He’s gotten better of getting back into the flow of how things are on this level. He has the physical tools needed to play cornerback on this level. He just needs to keep improving on the technique and the small fundamental things we’re asking him to do. But he’s done a really nice job. Pleased with where he is.”
Film review
Ryans liked what he saw against the Panthers, especially the toughness his team displayed.
The running game was downhill, especially Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks.
The defense got after Bryce Young, who went 0 for 2, was sacked once and had two rushing yards.
“After going back and reviewing the game, what really stood out was how we played complimentary football,” Ryans said. “We played a physical brand of football. We played the type of ball that I like to see us play. We were physical. We were flying around. Guys were having fun playing the game and that’s what I like to see.”
Joint practice Thursday in Motown
The Texans have two practices in Houston before flying to Detroit for a joint practice with the Lions on Thursday morning in advance of their third and final preseason game Saturday at Ford Field.
The Lions, under coach Dan Campbell’s leadership, are one of the best teams in the league. They defeated the Texans last season despite quarterback Jared Goff being intercepted five times.
“We’re excited about the opportunity,” Ryans said. “Good football team. For us, it’s just a matter of continuing to get better. We get the chance to go against another different scheme, different players. How do we respond versus this team?
“They were one of the top teams in the NFL last year, so we get the chance to go up and compete against a really nice team, good team and see how do we show up. So, I’m excited to see how our players show up in Detroit.”
Nick Caley’s progression
Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley, the replacement for Bobby Slowik, has called plays for two games.
The early reviews are positive, including his misdirection play he called for a touchdown pass by Davis Mills against the Minnesota Vikings.
Against the Panthers, quarterback C.J. Stroud ran a crisp second drive capped by his touchdown pass to Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins.
Caley called plays from the sidelines Saturday after calling plays from the booth in Minnesota.
“It’s always important in preseason games and for first-time play callers,” Ryans said. “You have to go through that process. You have to go through gameday. Training camp is reps for everyone. It’s reps for players, it’s reps for coaches, it’s reps for the officials. Everybody needs reps in training camp. It’s important for everybody.
“I think Caley has done a really nice job, the first two weeks of calling the plays, getting the plays in on time and making sure he’s dialed in with the quarterbacks. Everybody’s been on the same page. So, I’m very pleased with where we are now. We’ve had a very seamless transition with him calling the plays. Guys know what to expect. Guys can operate fast in and out of the huddle. So, I’m excited with where we are.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com