Houston Texans safety Andre Hal has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and insists he "will beat it."

He received the preliminary diagnosis of cancer of the blood cells from team physician Dr. James Muntz and has consulted with doctors at Houston's MD Anderson Cancer Center Christian Kirk Cardinals Jersey , the team said Friday.

The Texans added that Hal is "undergo testing and evaluation and is discussing his treatment options."

Hal is 26 and starting his fifth year with the Texans. He was drafted by Houston in 2014 out of Vanderbilt. He started all 16 games last season and had three interceptions.

"My faith in God and the support from my family, friends, teammates and coaches will see me through this difficult time," Hal said in a statement released through the team. "I will not let this diagnosis stop me from fulfilling my dreams and I do not want anyone to feel sorry for me. I know how to beat this and I will beat it."

The Texans said Hal and his family have requested privacy.

"Andre is tough and faithful and we believe he is prepared to win this fight," the family of team owner Bob McNair said in a statement. "The McNair family as well as the entire Texans organization will continue to be there for him, love and support him, and pray for his recovery."

Coach Bill O'Brien said Hal's illness "weighs heavy on the hearts of everyone in the Houston Texans family."

"We are confident that Andre's resiliency and infectious positivity, along with treatment and care from the best medical community in the world, will guide him through his recovery," O'Brien said. "The entire Texans organization is behind Andre and his family during this difficult time and we look forward to his eventual return to the team."


Dont'a Hightower is clearly thrilled to be back on the field after the frustration of having to sit and watch most of last season on the sidelines.

After making one of the biggest sacks in New England franchise history when he separated Atlanta's Matt Ryan from the football during New England's Super Bowl comeback in February 2017 Jessie Bates III Jersey , Hightower 鈥?who had missed three games the previous season with a knee problem 鈥?was lost five games into the 2017 schedule with a torn pectoral muscle. Coincidentally, he was hurt against the Falcons.

His absence, felt deeply by a team that came up short defensively in the Super Bowl, wasn't easy for Hightower to handle 鈥?even if it's something he had gotten used to.

"Absolutely," the linebacker and defensive captain said Wednesday, following the second day of the Patriots' mandatory minicamp outside Gillette Stadium. "Being out last year and even a little bit more the year before that, it just feels good to be out here and be able to communicate, go through the worst part and embracing the (camp stuff), as they say, with my teammates."

Hightower Youth Vinny Curry Jersey , 28, has failed to play a full schedule in any of his six years in the NFL. In fact, he has missed 24 of a possible 96 regular-season games since becoming a pro in 2012.

"It just (stinks) not being out there," he said. "I know in my career in the league I've missed a lot of games. It's definitely not anticipated and it's not something I look forward to doing or want to do. But it's part of it.

"Just not being out there during the regular season, let alone the playoffs, it (stinks) and it hurts."

During his downtime, he said, "I just do what I can, whether it's talking to (media), or going out to dinner and talking about some stuff."

And he also remained part of the group of linebackers.

"We've got a group chat. We stay on that Ravens Elite Jerseys ," he said. "We've got a big old group chat. Whether it's a funny meme or somebody's got a question about football, or we're talking about something happening on TV, or the (NBA) Finals or whatever. We've got a tight-knit group and we stay close."

Asked if he might have done some coaching while not playing, Hightower said, "Not so much. There were small things I'd see during the games or whatever or I'd see on the IPad at practice, I might say something to them. Not so much as a coach on the sideline."

So did it spark interest for him in a coaching future?

"Maybe," he said. "Definitely not in the NFL, probably not in college, either.

"I've been away for too long, man. I don't know if I can do that. I mean Quenton Nelson Jersey Colts , I love football but I don't know if I love it that much."

NOTES: Rob Gronkowski caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the corner of the end zone during one drill. Instead of his customary spike, he threw the ball out of the practice fields. . Gronkowski, in a great state of mind after his offseason of uncertainty, walked past the Hightower interview and was heard saying, with a laugh, "They trading me still?" . Day 2 and Brady remains quiet, with Thursday seen as a possibility for him to meet with the media.

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