Texans WR John Metchie III Active For Week 2 Matchup With Colts
Texans wide receiver John Metchie III is active for the team’s Week 2 game against the Colts today. As such, the 2022 second-rounder will finally make his regular season debut.
It has been a long road for Metchie. The rebuilding Houston franchise selected the Alabama product, a first-round talent, with the No. 44 overall pick in last year’s draft as something of a buy-low maneuver. Although the team knew that Metchie, who suffered a torn ACL in the SEC title game in December 2021, would not be ready for the start of his rookie campaign, there was hope that he would be able to suit up at some point in 2022 and begin to provide a return on the Texans’ investment.
Sadly, Metchie with diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia last July, at which point it became clear he would miss all of 2022. He progressed enough in his recovery to participate in the Texans’ offseason program this year, though a hamstring strain prevented him from getting much OTA work. And while Metchie was able to see preseason action, the hamstring issue kept him out of last week’s regular season opener against the Ravens.
With his health issues hopefully in the rearview mirror, Metchie will try to begin capitalizing on his vast potential. Now 23, Metchie put himself on the draft radar with a pair of productive seasons with the Crimson Tide in 2020 and ’21. Across that span, he totaled 151 catches, 2,058 yards, and 14 touchdowns.
Although Houston dropped its Week 1 bout, the defense and rookie QB C.J. Stroud showed some promise. With Metchie and fellow pass catchers like Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Xavier Hutchinson, to go along with second-year running back Dameon Pierce, the Texans hope they have a young core of skill position talent to build upon.
As of the time of this writing, Metchie has not yet recorded a catch in the matchup with Indianapolis.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/16/23
Today’s callups and adjustments heading into Week 2:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Godwin Igwebuike, LB Andre Smith
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Melvin Gordon, C Sam Mustipher
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: T Aviante Collins
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: CB C.J. Goodwin, C Brock Hoffman
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: CB Chase Lucas
- Promoted from practice squad: G Kayode Awosika
- Placed on IR: CB Khalil Dorsey, DE Josh Paschal
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Innis Gaines, RB Patrick Taylor
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: G Michael Deiter
- Promoted from practice squad: T Austin Deculus, S DeAndre Houston-Carson
- Waived: DE Derek Rivers
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: G Arlington Hambright, WR Juwann Winfree
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: CB Gregory Junior
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated: DT Chris Jones (story)
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Matt Dickerson, RB La’Mical Perine
- Waived: CB Darius Rush
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Isaac Rochell
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Royce Freeman, WR Austin Trammell
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: DT Da’Shawn Hand
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Cameron Goode, DE Chase Winovich
- Waived: S Verone McKinley III
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Calvin Munson, WR Jalen Reagor
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Taiwan Jones, OLB Oshane Ximines
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Artie Burns, LB Jon Rhattigan
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Pat O’Connor, LB J.J. Russell
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Eric Garror, DT Kyle Peko
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/13/23
Today’s taxi squad moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
- Placed on IR: S Jovante Moffatt
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Godwin Igwebuike
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Michael Strachan
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Michael Bandy
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Bruce Hector
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: T Sebastian Gutierrez, CB Troy Pride Jr.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Jaret Patterson, OLB Ty Shelby
New England Patriots
- Signed: QB Ian Book, DB William Hooper
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Faion Hicks, TE Michael Jacobson, OLB Terrell Lewis, LB Ty Summers
- Placed on IR: LB Ryan Connelly
- Released: WR Jontre Kirklin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL John Molchon
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/13/23
Wednesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed (off Raiders’ practice squad): CB Sam Webb
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- Placed on IR: S Caden Sterns (story)
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Michael Dogbe
- Promoted from practice squad: P Ty Zentner
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Suspended to begin 2024 season: TE Leonard Taylor
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on non-football illness list: QB Stetson Bennett
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Lynn Bowden Jr., DE Kyle Phillips
- Placed on IR: DE Payton Turner (story)
Taylor was placed on IR by the Jaguars in July, guaranteeing that he would not see the field during the 2023 campaign. He has also been suspended for the first two games of next season, though, PHNX’s Howard Balzer notes. The 24-year-old has yet to see regular season NFL game action in his career.
Bennett has been dealing with a shoulder injury, but the NFI designation is used for injuries (or, in this case, illnesses) which arise separate from football-related activities. When asked for specifics about the fourth-round rookie’s circumstances, head coach Sean McVay said, via The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue, “out of respect for him and the situation, I’m going to leave all of those specifics and particulars in-house” (subscription required). The Rams will move forward with Matthew Stafford as their starter under center, and Brett Rypien available as an option to be elevated from the practice squad.
Texans Place WR Noah Brown, DT Hassan Ridgeway On IR
Noah Brown‘s Texans debut included three receptions, but the career-long Texas-based wideout will be shut down for a while. The Texans placed him on IR on Wednesday.
Hassan Ridgeway joins Brown on Houston’s IR list. The veteran defensive tackle, who followed DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco, suffered a calf injury in Week 1. A groin issue will send Brown to IR, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.
This is familiar territory for Ridgeway, who finished last season on IR. The 49ers had used their eight injury activations, leaving Ridgeway on IR with a pectoral strain. Due to the NFL’s adjusted IR setup, neither Ridgeway nor Brown can return before Week 6.
After spending six seasons with the Cowboys, Brown signed a one-year deal worth $2.25MM to switch Texas teams in March. Houston gave Ridgeway a one-year, $3.25MM accord to join Jimmie Ward as a 49ers defender following Ryans. Both players worked as backups in the Texans’ season-opening loss to the Ravens. Ridgeway played 15 defensive snaps, while Brown saw extensive time on offense, logging 52 snaps. The latter caught three passes for 20 yards in C.J. Stroud‘s debut.
The Texans were without John Metchie to start their season as well. Returning after a leukemia diagnosis kept him off the field as a rookie, Metchie sustained a hamstring injury while preparing to debut. The Texans have Nico Collins, Robert Woods and rookies Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson as healthy options at receiver.
In addition to the IR moves, the Texans received a scare in their secondary Sunday. A collision with Lamar Jackson led to second-year safety Jalen Pitre being hospitalized with a bruised lung, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. While the 2022 second-round pick was coughing up blood at one point, he has since been released from the hospital, per Wilson and Pelissero.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/12/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: OL Kyle Fuller
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Lamar Jackson
- Released: WR Dezmon Patmon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OL Michael Jordan
- Released: TE Austin Allen
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Gerrid Doaks, WR Jared Wayne
- Released: RB Larry Rountree
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OL Jack Anderson, RB Tyler Goodson, TE Jordan Murray
- Released: RB Jason Huntley, TE Johnny Lumpkin, WR Mike Strachan
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Ty Shelby
- Released: OT Austen Pleasants
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Miller Forristall, P Brandon Wright
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Lucky Jackson
New Orleans Saints
- Released: WR Jontre Kirklin
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Jacob Copeland
- Released: DB Luq Barcoo, RB Greg Bell
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Greg Eiland, OT Jason Peters (story)
- Released: QB Holton Ahlers, S Brady Breeze
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/12/23
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: DL Joe Gaziano
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived from IR: DL Tautala Pesefea Jr.
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: OT Jack Conklin (story)
- Signed to active roster: G Michael Dunn
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: P Ty Zentner
- Signed: DL Michael Dogbe
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reinstated from reserve/did not report: DT Chris Jones (story)
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: K Brett Maher
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: RB Myles Gaskin
New York Jets
- Reinstated from reserve/suspended: CB Brandin Echols (story)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived from IR: WR Charleston Rambo
Michael Dogbe has found his next gig after getting waived by the Jaguars during final cuts. The former seventh-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Cardinals, appearing in 40 games. He took on a bigger role over the past two years, compiling 55 tackles in 29 appearances. He joined Jacksonville this offseason before earning his walking papers.
Myles Gaskin is back on an active roster following an unceremonious end to his Miami tenure. The running back had 1,818 yards from scrimmage across the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but he saw a limited role with the Dolphins in 2022. He joined the Vikings practice squad at the end of the preseason and was elevated to the active roster for their season opener.
2023 Offseason In Review Series
Quarterback acquisitions generated top headlines this offseason, while the slew of developments affecting the running back market moved that position’s value to a precarious point. On that note, our latest Offseason In Review series is in the books. Here are the PFR staff’s looks at how teams assembled their 2023 rosters:
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/9/23
We have our first flood of pregame transactions of the season today as teams across the league with games tomorrow utilize their two permitted practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: T Jackson Barton, S Andre Chachere
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: RB Godwin Igwebuike
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Natrone Brooks, TE Parker Hesse
- Waived: DL Joe Gaziano
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: C Sam Mustipher, CB Daryl Worley
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Stephen Carlson, OLB DeMarquis Gates
- Released: LB Dylan Cole
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: CB C.J. Goodwin, C Brock Hoffman
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Phillip Dorsett, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Innis Gaines, RB Patrick Taylor
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: G Michael Deiter, P Ty Zentner
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Jake Funk, WR Juwann Winfree
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Ross Blacklock
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Isaac Rochell
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Brevin Allen
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: LB Troy Reeder
- Promoted from practice squad: K Brett Maher, QB Brett Rypien
- Placed on IR: TE Hunter Long
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: S DeAndre Square
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Cameron Goode
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Myles Gaskin, OLB Benton Whitley
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Ryan Connelly, RB Tony Jones Jr.
- Placed on IR: WR Tre’Quan Smith
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Taiwan Jones
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Britain Covey, P Arryn Siposs
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Austin Bryant, LB Curtis Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Artie Burns, LB Jon Rhattigan
- Placed on IR: RB Kenny McIntosh
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: T Justin Murray, DT Kyle Peko
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jamison Crowder
WR Notes: Watson, Metchie, Chark, McLaurin, Smith-Njigba
Jordan Love‘s tenure as the Packers‘ full-time starting quarterback will have a bit of a hurdle to navigate this week. In his first start since November 2021, Love will be without the team’s top returning receiver Christian Watson, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.
Watson is dealing with a hamstring injury that could potentially lead to an extended absence. Head coach Matt LaFleur claimed that he doesn’t think Watson will reach a three- or four-week absence but classified the second-year wideout as week-to-week.
The top target in Watson’s absence, fellow sophomore receiver Romeo Doubs, is also dealing with a hamstring injury but is only listed as questionable heading into the weekend. Rookie wideout Dontayvion Wicks is the third such receiver on the team dealing with a hamstring injury, but he managed to avoid the injury report altogether. Star tackle David Bakhtiari is also available after staying off the injury report.
Here are a few more reports on wide receiver injuries from around the league heading into Week 1:
- The world will have to continue to wait for the NFL debut of Texans wide receiver John Metchie III, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Despite making a recovery from both a torn ACL and leukemia, Metchie is still dealing with a nagging hamstring injury. Houston is being patient, taking a “big-picture approach” to Metchie’s return. The team will be without safety Jimmie Ward and linebacker Blake Cashman for Week 1, as well.
- The Panthers are slowly working their way back to full health in their receiving corps, according to Panthers writer Augusta Stone. Back ups Terrace Marshall and Ihmir Smith-Marsette are now fully participating in practice after recent injury trouble. Starters Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark Jr. both returned to practice today in a limited capacity. While Thielen was listed as questionable and could still play, Chark has been ruled out for the team’s season opener.
- The Commanders drew lots of criticism when leading receiver Terry McLaurin sustained an injury as the team played its starters fairly deep into a preseason game in an effort to end the Ravens’ preseason win streak. They’ll dodge a bullet, though, as McLaurin will be active this week after making good progress from his turf toe injury, according to Commanders senior writer Zach Selby. He’s had a couple of full participation practices and should be good to go for Week 1. Defensive end Chase Young has been listed as questionable, though. Head coach Ron Rivera claimed that “if (Young’s) cleared, he’ll go.”
- Despite undergoing wrist surgery just two and a half weeks ago, Seahawks rookie first round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba is expected to play in the team’s season opener against the Rams this Sunday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Head coach Pete Carroll, who was optimistic on the recovery timeline, confirmed as much this week.