Former Vanderbilt star and Houston Texans’ cornerback Andre Hal returned to practice with the Texans on Wednesday for the first time since learning his lymphoma was in remission.
Hal was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this spring. The Port Allen, La. native has been on the Texans’ non-football illness list while undergoing treatment at Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center, a process that included a hyperbaric chamber, acupuncture and Vitamin C intravenous fluids. In September, the Texans announced that Hal’s lymphoma was in remission.
Hal told reporters on Wednesday he is excited to get back to football.
“It’s been a long wait for me,” Hal said. “I always kept working out. I kept my faith that I was going to play this year, and it came to fruition.”
Welcome back to practice, Andre Hal. pic.twitter.com/DX6UqbWbzq
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 17, 2018
Hal starred as a two-time All-SEC cornerback for the Commodores from 2010-2013. As a senior in 2013, Hal amassed 49 total tackles, including 33 solo stops, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. He added 6.5 tackles for loss from his cornerback position and led the SEC with 18 passes defended.
Hal said his Texans’ teammates congratulated him for his return to practice, another step in the process.
“I’m definitely a different person,” Hal said. “Different just spiritually, mentally, physically. I’m in the best shape of my life just from working out all the time, eating right, getting closer to God, getting closer to myself, finding out who I am, stuff like that. I’m a better person.”
Watch Hal’s full interview on the Houston Texans’ official website.