Texans waive David Quessenberry a year after cancer remission
— -- HOUSTON -- A year after entering remission from cancer and three years after the Texans drafted him, David Quessenberry was hoping to be on his way to finally playing an NFL down.
That won't happen -- at least not with the Texans this season. But the organization does want him back.
The Texans waived the offensive tackle Tuesday with a non-football injury designation. He won't play for the Texans this year, but if he clears waivers, he could return to the roster on the Texans' non-football injury/illness list. He could also return in some other capacity.
The Texans have media availability after Tuesday's organized team activities, so Quessenberry's future with the organization might be addressed at that time.
In June 2014, Quessenberry was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin T-lymphoblastic lymphoma after a Texans athletic trainer found his persistent cough suspicious. While his teammates prepared for the season, Quessenberry battled for his life, going through intense chemotherapy.
By February, he had gone into remission, but he still had to undergo a maintenance protocol that involved chemotherapy pills to keep the illness at bay. He hoped to return to the field last season, but ultimately the Texans decided he couldn't. In an emotional scene shown on HBO's "Hard Knocks," coach Bill O'Brien told Quessenberry he was going to be placed on the non-football illness/injury list.
Now more than a full year removed from the most intense part of his treatment, Quessenberry was optimistic. He'd gained back most of the weight he lost during his treatment. He was still taking medications as part of a maintenance plan, but he was back to working out and practicing with the team.
Since being drafted out of San Jose State in 2013, Quessenberry has had a string of bad luck. A foot injury during his rookie year led to his going on injured reserve that season. The cancer diagnosis came just as he began his comeback from that injury.
Unless another team claims him, this could be the end of the road for Quessenberry as a player.
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