Daiyan Henley will not join the Denver Broncos after all.
The Broncos announced late Wednesday on social media that the trade to acquire Henley from the Los Angeles Chargers would not be finalized.
The team did not provide a reason for the cancellation, but sources within the organization said Henley was in Denver on Wednesday to undergo a physical examination.
When the Broncos initially announced the trade just before Tuesday’s trade deadline, the organization specified that the transaction was subject to a physical.
Terms of the Scrapped Deal
Denver had agreed to send a fourth-round draft pick in 2027 and a fifth-round selection in 2028 to Los Angeles in exchange for the linebacker.
The move would have sent Henley from a winless squad to the team currently holding first place in the AFC West division.
🚨 Denver counted its HENs before they hatched. . Henley's back in LA and the Chargers already posted "Welcome back, Daiyan" 😅 . The Broncos announced late Wednesday that their deadline deal for LB Daiyan Henley "will not be finalized." Denver was sending a 2027 4th and a 2028…
Neither Broncos head coach Sean Payton nor general manager George Paton made public comments regarding the trade on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Denver is currently on a bye week, and Payton granted his players a week of rest.
Broncos Express Respect for Henley as He Joins Chargers
“We have an immense respect for Daiyan, both as a player and as a person, and we wish him all the success possible for the future,” the Broncos said in their statement.
Henley, who turns 27 in a week, is in the final year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to become a free agent in 2027.
The Denver Broncos' trade for Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley "will not be finalized," the Broncos announced late Wednesday, a day after revealing the deal just before the NFL trade deadline, ESPN reported. The Broncos gave no reason, but team sources told ESPN… pic.twitter.com/cudqetgLlq
The Chargers selected him in the third round of the 2023 draft, 85th overall.
The Chargers posted “Re-welcome, Daiyan” on social media late Wednesday afternoon following the announcement from Denver.
Henley has been spared from injuries since his NFL debut, recording 41 starts in 42 games over the last three seasons combined, including all eight games for the Chargers this year.
Broncos Seek to Reinforce Linebacker Unit During Winning Streak
The Broncos hold a 7-2 record and carry a five-game winning streak while looking to reinforce an inside linebacker unit for a defense ranked 23rd against the run.
Alex Singleton is leading defensive players in the league with 617 games played after the first nine weeks of the season.
Denver has played 618 defensive games, more than any other team in the league, and the 32-year-old Singleton has missed only one.
Singleton and Justin Strnad have been the starters at inside linebacker throughout the season.
Henley has recorded 51 tackles this season with the Chargers, a team high, and he was the Chargers’ best tackler during each of the last two seasons, with two seasons of 100 tackles.
He totals 317 tackles, five sacks, and four interceptions across 56 games played with the Chargers.
Upcoming Matchups
Denver plays its next game on Nov. 22 against the Las Vegas Raiders in Denver.
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