In November of last year, the Houston Texans received heartbreaking news when rookie defensive end Dylan Horton announced his decision to step away from football. The fourth-round draft pick from TCU was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma, prompting him to prioritize his health.
By March, Horton had entered remission, and by May, he had successfully completed his radiation therapy. Recently, he achieved another significant milestone in his recovery, as he was cleared to practice for the first time in nearly a year. On Wednesday, he took to the field with the Texans, providing the team with an emotional lift.
#Texans DL Dylan Horton will return to practice today for the first time since last November, shortly before he was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sources say. Horton, who is currently on the NFI list, is in remission and completed his treatments in the spring. pic.twitter.com/IkROgi9q7B
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 2, 2024
Head coach DeMeco Ryans commended Horton, praising the 24-year-old for approaching his battle with a “great attitude” and maintaining a positive demeanor throughout the ordeal.
As a rookie, the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Horton participated in 10 games for the Texans, logging 175 snaps on their base defense and 98 on special teams. During his time on the field, he recorded 13 tackles, one of which was a tackle for loss, along with two quarterback pressures and two hits on the quarterback.
#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on Dylan Horton @dhorton_98 inspirational return from Stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/mdi5QlV5Om
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 2, 2024
The Texans have more than one inspiring story to draw from as they head into the 2024 season. This marks the second consecutive year that a player has made a remarkable comeback to the field. John Metchie III, a second-round draft pick from Alabama in 2022, missed his entire rookie season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. He returned to play in Week 2 of the 2023 season and participated in 16 games, finishing with 16 receptions for 158 yards. However, this season, Metchie has managed only one reception for seven yards, struggling to secure a place in a deep receiving corps.
