REPORT: Chargers TE Hunter Henry suffers torn ACL
By Matt Pagels
Devasting news for the Los Angeles Chargers.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Chargers tight end Hunter Henry suffered a torn ACL during practice at organized team activities (OTAs). Henry will reportedly miss the 2018 season.
Stunner from LA: Chargers’ TE Hunter Henry suffered a season-ending torn ACL today, per league source. Did it during a drill, running downfield, untouched. Second opinion coming Wednesday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 23, 2018
Awful. Just awful. Today marked the first day of voluntary OTAs for the Chargers. It also marks the first major injury for any team, and of course it’s a Charger that gets hurt.
Henry, a 2016 second-round pick, was finally taking over for Antonio Gates as the No. 1 tight end for the Chargers. The 37-year-old Gates remains unsigned, but the Chargers will likely bring him back after this.
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The Chargers also signed former Broncos tight end Virgil Green to a two-year deal in the offseason. Green was set to back up Henry and help in the running game. Is he a receiving threat? Not so much. The 29-year-old veteran never surpassed 300 receiving yards in any of his seven seasons with the Broncos. He has 71 career catches, 807 career receiving yards and four career touchdowns. Sean Culkin is also on the roster.
Not only should the Chargers entertain bringing Gates back, but perhaps they look at other tight ends in free agency. Former Colts and Saints TE Coby Fleener is an option, but the 29-year-old still hasn’t been cleared from his 2017 concussion. He never lived up to the five-year, $36 million deal he signed with the Saints two years ago, which was another reason that led to his release.
Again, this is just really crummy news for a team that should be competing for a title in 2018.