Texans WR John Metchie III Makes Inspiring NFL Debut After Beating Leukemia — Highlights & Reactions

John Metchie III is on the move again. Less than three months after the Philadelphia Eagles acquired the Canadian wide receiver from the Houston Texans, the Eagles have shipped the former Alabama star to the New York Jets in exchange for cornerback Michael Carter II and a late-round pick swap, according to multiple league insiders. The deal answers pressing needs on both rosters. New York has been hunting for wide-receiver depth after season-ending injuries to Garrett Wilson and rookie Malachi Morgan left quarterback Aaron Rodgers thin on reliable targets. Metchie, 25, arrives with fresh legs, a reputation for precise route-running and the kind of toughness that endeared him to fans when he fought back from a 2022 leukemia diagnosis to resume his NFL career. Philadelphia, meanwhile, turns surplus at receiver into immediate help for a secondary that has surrendered the fourth-most passing yards in the NFC. Carter II gives defensive coordinator Vic Fangio a versatile slot defender who played more than 70 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps this season and excels in run support. Metchie’s stay in Philadelphia was brief but promising: four catches for 18 yards on just 37 offensive snaps while buried behind A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and breakout slot man Britain Covey. The Brampton, Ontario native will have a clearer path to targets in New York, where he’ll likely operate as the Z-receiver opposite veteran Corey Davis in offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s up-tempo, West Coast scheme. Fantasy football managers should note that Metchie’s PPR value jumps immediately. Expect him to see 6-8 targets per game, particularly in red-zone packages that previously highlighted Wilson’s physicality. DFS players could find a low-cost play as early as Week 9 against a porous Patriots secondary. Contractually, the Jets inherit the remaining season and a half on Metchie’s rookie deal, including a modest $2.9 million cap hit in 2026—excellent value for a potential WR2. Philadelphia absorbs a nearly identical number for Carter II, but his restricted free-agent status next spring gives the Eagles a chance to retain him without a long-term risk. The trade caps a whirlwind 14-month stretch for Metchie: • July 2022: diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, misses entire rookie season. • September 2023: debuts with Texans, tallying 22 receptions for 217 yards. • August 17 2025: traded to Eagles for TE Harrison Bryant. • October 29 2025: lands with Jets in swap for CB Michael Carter II. For Jets fans, the move signals an all-in push for postseason contention; for Metchie, it’s the latest chapter in a story defined by perseverance and rapid adaptation. If his college production (96-1,142-8 in his final Alabama season) is any indicator, the young Canadian may finally have the stage he needs to become a featured NFL playmaker.