ESPN.com’ Eric D. Williams wrote about the injury after the Chargers’ OTA workouts Tuesday:
Entering his third season, Henry was being counted on to develop into a focal point of the offense as the Chargers opted not to bring back future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates in free agency.
Now, a Gates return could be in store, as the Chargers are expected to consider re-signing the 37-year-old, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Henry’s injury occurred early in practice during team drills, as he limped off the field on his own. Once treated by trainers, Henry remained on the sideline for the rest of the session.
Afterward, Chargers coach Anthony Lynn suggested Henry’s injury was not serious.
“He’s fine,” Lynn said. “We just held him back because we can.”
Henry has had a couple of other injuries in his two seasons in the NFL. He injured a knee and missed a game his rookie year and missed the last two games last season with a lacerated kidney.
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco told reporters during the draft that they decided to part ways with Gates because his targets would be limited and the team wanted to expand Henry’s role.
However, Gates already has a good rapport with quarterback Philip Rivers, intimately knows the offense and showed during the last two games of the 2017 season (10 catches, 127 yards, TD) that he can still make plays.
The Chargers signed Virgil Green to a three-year, $8.6 million deal this offseason to serve as the team’s blocking tight end.
Sean Culkin, Ben Johnson and Cole Hunt are the other tight ends on the team’s 90-man roster, so depth at that position is an issue.
