For patients dealing with cancer, the peal of a bell is what miracles sound like. Texans defensive end Dylan Horton got to ring his own bell to signal an end to his treatment.
Check that, Horton banged a gong. That seems more befitting of a young NFL defender. And Horton gave it two taps as the medical workers next to him celebrated the moment. Horton then posted a video to his Instagram Story to commemorate an achievement on his journey back to good health. He captioned it “Glory to God. Final Treatment.”
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network posted the video of Horton’s emotional moment.
The Texans selected the former TCU star in the fourth round of last year’s draft. And as a rookie, he was contributing to the team, which was one of the biggest upstarts in the NFL in 2023.
The day before Thanksgiving, Horton took a medical leave of absence from the Texans. He said he needed to take the time to deal with some health issues. The full explanation as to why didn’t come to him for a few more days. On Dec. 1, he received a diagnosis. He was suffering from Hodgkins lymphoma. It was stage four.
Horton took leave from Texans day before Thanksgiving
Before his Texans season came to an end, Horton had played in 10 games. He was part of 13 tackles, with one for a loss. He also registered two quarterback hits.
But stats didn’t seem important in light of his diagnosis. Hodgkins lymphoma is cancer of the lymph or immune system. Stage 4 means that the cancer has spread outside the lymphatic system.
Horton revealed his diagnosis to the public two months ago. But by then, he said the disease was in remission. He called it “God’s Grace.”
“I am grateful for the love from my family and friends,”Horton shared on social media. “And support from the Texans organization and my doctors. My next objective is to complete my treatments, then get back to playing the game that I love. Thank you for your prayers and support as I continue this journey.”
To think, Horton isn’t the only Texans player dealing with cancer. Receiver John Metchie, the former Alabama star, missed his rookie year after a leukemia diagnosis. This was back in 2022. He saw his first NFL action in 2023, catching 16 passes for 158 yards.
It’s unclear when Horton can return to workouts with his Texans teammates. We wish him all the best.
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