The Jets’ acquisition of extensive receiver John Metchie III didn’t garner a lot consideration.
Days earlier than they traded away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams in a full-blown fireplace sale, the Jets quietly added Metchie within the deal that despatched cornerback Michael Carter II to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Metchie, a third-year professional, had been buried on Philadelphia’s star-powered receiver depth chart. And his identify wasn’t as splashy as that of Adonai Mitchell, the speedy second-year receiver the Indianapolis Colts traded to the Jets as a part of the bundle for Gardner.
However Metchie is taking advantage of his likelihood with the Jets — and teammates are taking discover.
“He’s a very smart player,” quarterback Tyrod Taylor mentioned. “He’s a pro’s pro. I’m looking forward to him [getting] to continue to be a big part of our success.”
Metchie, 25, recorded a career-high six receptions for 65 yards and a landing in Sunday’s 23-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
It was the second recreation in a row wherein Metchie hauled in a landing.
Three video games into his Jets profession, the 5-11 Metchie boasts 10 receptions for 113 yards and the 2 scores.
That manufacturing has been a lot wanted for a Jets receiver group that’s lacking Garrett Wilson on account of a knee harm and that lacked a constant second choice even when Wilson was wholesome.
“There’s a lot of people that don’t really see what he does behind closed doors,” head coach Aaron Glenn mentioned of Metchie. “He’s here every morning at 6 a.m. in our indoor [facility], catching 300 balls.”
Metchie, who spent one yr at Peddie Faculty in Hightstown, N.J., was a university star at Alabama, the place he was a favourite goal of quarterbacks Mac Jones and Jalen Milroe.
For the 2020 group that gained the nationwide championship, Metchie completed second on the Crimson Tide with 916 receiving yards, trailing solely Heisman winner DeVonta Smith.
In 2021, Metchie made a team-high 96 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.
And regardless that Metchie tore his ACL throughout the 2021 SEC Championship Recreation, the Houston Texans took him with the No. 44 decide within the 2022 NFL Draft — one slot behind the place the Giants chosen receiver Wan’Dale Robinson.
However Metchie was identified with acute promyelocytic leukemia that summer season, inflicting him to take a seat out his whole rookie season.
Metchie made his NFL debut in 2023, however over two seasons with the Texans, he totaled solely 40 receptions and one landing.
In August, the Texans traded Metchie to the Eagles, reuniting him together with his school teammate Smith. Metchie made 4 catches for 18 yards in seven video games earlier than Philadelphia despatched him to the Jets.
“Whichever team, wherever you are, I think it’s always an opportunity,” Metchie mentioned after becoming a member of the Jets, who fell to 2-9 with Sunday’s loss.
“You really look to make an impact on whatever team you’re on, whether it’s a really good team or whatever you want to call it, but I think it’s about the individual and how you go about your business.”
The Jets are happy with how Metchie is dealing with his enterprise to this point.
When he and Mitchell arrived to the Jets, Taylor says he stayed late at follow with the younger receivers to assist get them up to the mark.
Taylor, 36, was the backup quarterback on the time however has since changed Justin Fields because the starter, starting with the Ravens recreation.
“Once I was told I was the starter, we spent a lot of time … conversing, watching film and getting on the same page,” Taylor mentioned. “I think that our connection will continue to grow.”
Metchie’s two touchdowns with the Jets are already greater than the one he totaled in 36 video games with the Texans and Eagles.
He performed 86% of the snaps on Sunday to guide all Jets receivers after by no means receiving greater than a 16% snap share with Philly.
Metchie seems to hold that momentum into Sunday afternoon, when the Jets host the Atlanta Falcons (4-7) at MetLife Stadium.
“He had an ACL, he fought a battle with an illness, and he’s come back from all those things,” Glenn mentioned. “Success is in his future no matter what he does, and I’m not surprised at all that he’s having success right now.”
