Eagles WR John Metchie feels right at home thanks to Alabama connection

The Eagles made a sneaky move this week, bringing in wide receiver John Metchie III from the Houston Texans. And if you ask him, it didn’t take long to feel right at home in Philadelphia.

Shortly after the trade went down, Metchie’s phone rang. On the other end? DeVonta Smith, his old Alabama teammate and roommate.

“And then I was literally here in a couple of hours and then said, ‘What up,’” Metchie told reporters after practice.

That’s the NFL for you — one second you’re fighting for depth chart scraps in Houston, the next you’re reunited with a Heisman winner in midnight green.

Eagles locker room feels like “home” for Metchie

First look at John Metchie III in an Eagles jersey alongside former Alabama teammate Devonta Smith.

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For Metchie, the Alabama ties in Philly run deep. Smith isn’t the only one. Landon Dickerson, Tyler Steen, rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell, and roster hopefuls like Eli Ricks, Byron Young, and Cameron Latu all wore crimson and white before turning pro. Even Jalen Hurts, though he finished at Oklahoma, is part of that same Bama fraternity.

“The locker room just feels like home,” Metchie said. “The Alabama guys, the Georgia guys, the guys like Jahan [Dotson] and the Penn State guys. It has a really good feel.”

It’s a hell of a support system for a guy who’s been through as much as Metchie has. From an ACL tear in college, to a leukemia diagnosis that forced him to miss his entire rookie year in 2022, to losing reps behind Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins in Houston, he’s had every reason to throw in the towel. Instead, he’s here, fighting for a roster spot on an Eagles team that thrives on competition.

The uphill battle

Let’s be real, Philly’s wide receiver room is stacked. Between Smith, AJ Brown, Jahan Dotson, and a mix of young talent, Metchie has little time to make a big impression before final roster cuts.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, however, sounded intrigued:

“I remember watching him coming out of college, doing a lot of work on him, his ability to play different positions, he can move around,” Patullo said. “He had some injuries early on, but worked through those… excited to see what he can do today, especially.”

Metchie’s calling card has always been his route-running and versatility to play both the slot and “Z” receiver. That’s exactly the type of flexibility that can get you a helmet on Sundays in Philly.

Competition makes the Eagles better

Jahan Dotson, who also arrived in Philly via late-summer trade last year, gave Metchie some simple advice: “Dive into that playbook.”

Dotson also pointed out what makes the Eagles different than most teams.

“One thing I love about this place, the Eagles, is we thrive on competition. People are never stagnant, we’re always pushing each other… It’s great to add that competition to the room because it only brings out the best in everyone.”

That’s exactly the kind of environment Metchie needs. A locker room full of guys who know his journey, who have fought their own uphill battles, and who won’t let him coast.

The Eagles didn’t bring in John Metchie III to sit around. He’ll see action against the Jets in the preseason finale, and with roster cuts looming, he’s got one week to prove he belongs.

If nothing else, the Alabama connection gives him an instant comfort level, and his mindset — “not worrying about a bunch of things you can’t control” — shows he’s not about to crack under the pressure.

Whether Metchie earns a roster spot or lands on the practice squad, the Eagles just added another hungry, battle-tested competitor to an already loaded receiver room. And in Philly, that’s exactly the kind of guy fans rally behind.