Linebacker Daiyan Henley will remain with the Los Angeles Chargers after the Denver Broncos called off a trade for his acquisition on Thursday.
The deal collapsed just a day after the Broncos announced they had agreed to acquire the fourth-year Washington State product ahead of the NFL trade deadline, pending a physical exam.
Denver intended to send a 2027 fourth-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round draft pick to Los Angeles in exchange for the defender.
The Broncos announced the cancellation late Wednesday in a social media statement, saying that a trade involving the linebacker would not be finalized.
“We think highly of Daiyan as a player and a person and wish him the best moving forward,” the Denver Broncos said.
Neither franchise disclosed the specific reason behind the failed transaction, and Henley participated in physical evaluations at team facilities on Wednesday.
Initial reports pointed toward the physical examination as a potential stumbling block, though team officials did not confirm that assessment.
The Chargers responded to the reversal on social media by playfully changing a graphic reading “Thank you, Daiyan” back to “Welcome back.”
Denver is currently on its bye week, and head coach Sean Payton is not expected to address the media until team preparations begin for an 11th-week matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Henley is in the final season of his rookie contract and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent upon the conclusion of the 2026 NFL season.
The Chargers originally selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, and he quickly established himself as a mainstay in the team’s defensive unit.
Los Angeles remains the lone winless team across the league this season.
The Broncos hold a 7-2 record at the top of the AFC West division and sought to fortify their defense ahead of the stretch run.
Henley would have lined up alongside middle linebacker Alex Singleton, who leads the NFL with 107 tackles through nine games.
Henley leads the Chargers with 51 tackles across eight appearances this year, following back-to-back seasons with over 100 tackles.
The trade cancellation unfolded during a chaotic deadline week across the league.
