Troy Trojans lose star WR Chris Lewis in wake of cancer treatment and surgery: Reports

Troy Trojans star wide receiver Chris Lewis will not play in the 2024 season. Lewis told ESPN that he will miss the 2024 season due to his cancer diagnosis, treatment, and surgery. Lewis will reportedly stay in school and work as a student assistant coach.

The star wide receiver felt discomfort in his knee back in March. After the end of the season, he got an MRI and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a malignant bone tumor in his left femur.

"I was just lost," Lewis said to ESPN. "How did that happen? I was lost for words. It was a lot of questions... They did tell me that the tumor wasn't attached to the bone. They told me it was the best news possible."

Lewis underwent a 10-week chemotherapy treatment and then had surgery to remove the tumor from his femur. However, he will miss the entire 2024 season as he recovers from the cancer diagnosis.

Last year at Troy, Lewis recorded 32 receptions for 735 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Trojans' top receiver. He also did all that with the pain in his knee, which he didn't realize at the time was cancer.

"It's been a huge motivation for me, just going back and looking what I did this season and me knowing I wasn't at my full ability," he said. "Me seeing that makes me want to go back out there and show everyone what I can do at 100%.

"I really couldn't get in and out of routes. I wasn't able to run full speed. Being 100% and showing everyone what I can do at 100%, that's my biggest motivation."

It was his second college season, as he began at Kentucky in 2022 but transferred to Troy for a bigger role. Lewis was a four-star recruit out of high school and was the 36th-ranked wide receiver, according to 247Sports.

Chris Lewis is thankful for his teammates' support during battle with cancer

During his 10-week chemotherapy treatment and being in the hospital battling cancer, Chris Lewis said he was thankful for the support from his teammates and coaches.

While Lewis was at the hospital, teammates and coaches visited and talked to him daily to make sure he was doing well.

"My teammates and coaches have been calling and texting and checking up on me," he said. "When I'm at Children's, they've been coming and sitting with me. They've been supportive throughout this process. I miss being [at Troy]; I just miss being around the team and the regular schedule I've been accustomed to."

The hope for Lewis is that he can return to the field in 2025 for Troy. The Trojans, they open their 2024 season on August 31 against Nevada.