Hunter Henry Won’t Play Vs. Ravens
Hunter Henry received first-team reps this week, but the Chargers evidently have not seen enough to send their top tight end back into action.
They will not activate Henry from the PUP list Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). This will keep Henry sidelined for the Bolts’ first-round matchup against the Ravens. Henry could still be activated for the divisional round if the Chargers advance, but for now, Antonio Gates and Virgil Green will continue to be Los Angeles’ main tight ends.
Los Angeles has until Monday to activate Henry, because of the 21-day window that opened when he resumed practicing. If that does not happen, the third-year tight end must spend the rest of the season on the PUP list.
Henry did not experience a setback, per Rapoport (on Twitter). Instead, the Chargers are being cautious and extending this as long as possible.
Henry is attempting to make it back from a torn ACL less than eight months after the injury occurred. Expected to be a key component of the Bolts’ passing game, Henry went down in late May. He’s been rumored to be a potential X-factor for the Chargers in these playoffs, but the opportunity for that to occur is dwindling.
Latest On Hunter Henry
- After being designated for return from injured reserve and participating in seven-on-seven drills at the end of December, Chargers tight end Hunter Henry took first-team snaps in practice this week, Los Angeles announced. However, Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn still declined to commit to Henry playing against the Ravens in the first round of the NFL postseason, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com tweets. If Henry does play, he’ll be on a “pitch count,” meaning fellow tight ends Antonio Gates and Virgil Green will still see time. Henry tore his ACL in May, but Los Angeles held out hope he’d be available if the club made it to the playoffs.
NFL Workout Updates: 1/3/19
Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Chicago Bears
- T Dakoda Shepley; G Ethan Cooper; LB Sam Eguavoen; K Ty Long
Detroit Lions
- DEs Avery Ellis, Tony Nelson; LB Sam Eguavoen
Green Bay Packers
- WR Devin Smith
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
- QBs Jon Jennings, Bo Levi Mitchell; WRs Sammie Coates, Greg Ward, Taj Williams; T Dakoda Shepley; LBs Sam Eguavoen, Jameer Thurman
Kansas City Chiefs
- DTs Henry Mondeaux, Cavon Walker; CB DeAndre Elliott
Los Angeles Chargers
- LB Alex Singleton; LS Tanner Carew; K Ty Long; P Shane Tripucka
New England Patriots
- WR Jordan Williams-Lambert
New Orleans Saints
- DE Geneo Grissom; LB Lorenzo Mauldin
New York Jets
- WR Stacy Coley; DE Charles Tapper
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RBs Terry Swanson, Malik Williams; WR Diontae Spencer
Seattle Seahawks
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/3/19
Today’s practice squad updates:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Jalen Collins
- Released: DE Anthony Winbush
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: S Fish Smithson
- Placed on injured list: S Dexter McCoil
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: T Kyle Murphy
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/2/19
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Signed off Chargers’ practice squad: S A.J. Hendy
- Placed on IR: Mike Tyson
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/2/19
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad decisions:
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: S Dexter McCoil
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Henry Mondeaux
- Cut: QB J.T. Barrett
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Marwin Evans
Antonio Gates Eyeing 17th Season?
It took Hunter Henry‘s injury and several weeks of back-and-forth discussions to bring Antonio Gates back to the Chargers for a 16th season. But the future Hall of Fame tight end may be hoping to delay his Canton ceremony.
Gates helped the Chargers secure their second playoff berth this decade, and he appears intent on seeing if he can squeeze in a 17th season.
“I try to evaluate myself. I can still beat a linebacker; I feel like I can still play,” Gates said, via NFL.com’s Steve Wyche. “The hard part is I set the bar at a certain level, but I’ve adjusted to my role and I just love my teammates.”
Serving as mostly a backup this season, Gates has 28 receptions for 333 yards — the latter figure a slight increase from his 2017 showing in 16 games — and has added two touchdown grabs, increasing his tight end-record total to 116. No pure tight end has played past age 38, and Ben Watson will pass on trying to do this. Gates will turn 39 next summer. He cites his college basketball career as a reason he could keep playing into uncharted territory.
“People also forget that I didn’t play college football so I haven’t taken that wear and tear,” Gates said.
The Chargers will have Henry and Virgil Green under contract in 2019, and the team issued a formal press release this past offseason to announce it was moving on from Gates after a storied 16-season run. No other team was connected to Gates prior to his Bolts reunion.
Hunter Henry Wild-Card Cameo Coming?
- The Chargers are assured of a playoff spot, making a possible Hunter Henry cameo more likely. It might occur as soon as next week. Tom Telesco did not rule out his top tight end being ready to return before a possible wild-card game, per Eric Williams of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Henry participated in seven-on-seven drills with the Bolts on Friday, Williams tweets, doing so after being confined to individual work last week. The Chargers designated Henry to return from IR on Dec. 17, so they have until the divisional round — if their season extends that far — to make a call on Henry.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/26/18
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Will House
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: LB Tyrell Adams
- Signed: CB Michael Hunter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DE Tyrone Holmes
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/18
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Anthony Lanier
- Waived: DE Chris Landrum
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Darvin Kidsy