The NFL trade deadline delivered a stunning late twist after the Denver Broncos called off their move for Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley.
Over a full day after the official Tuesday trade deadline had passed, the Broncos released a sudden midnight statement confirming the proposed deal was dead.
In a statement, they said: ‘The proposed trade involving Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley will not be finalized.
‘We have great respect for Daiyan as a player and person and we wish him all the best moving forward’, the AFC West-leading franchise added.
The proposed deal would have reportedly sent a 2027 fourth-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-rounder to Los Angeles, with the entire move strictly pending a physical.
It currently remains entirely unclear exactly what specific issue caused the trade to collapse, though Henley did deal with a minor shoulder injury last week.
The Denver Broncos’ move for Chargers star Daiyan Henley fell through at the 11th hour
The franchise released this mysterious statement in the wake of the deal falling through
Despite those recent injury concerns during practice, the linebacker still suited up and played during Sunday’s crushing defeat to the Houston Texans.
Henley currently leads the Chargers defensive unit with 51 total tackles this season.
The collapsed trade leaves the 7-2 Broncos desperately lacking much-needed defensive depth, as they are currently yielding 355 total yards per game this year.
It serves as just the latest frustrating setback for the Los Angeles Chargers, who are currently enduring a truly nightmarish campaign under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Los Angeles remains completely winless through eight weeks of the season, with their misery compounded by a concerning finger injury to Justin Herbert.
Following their 44-22 defeat to the Texans on Sunday, Herbert underwent an X-ray following fears of a potential fracture in his finger.
However, coach Harbaugh told reporters that ‘the imaging came back negative, so he should be good to go.’
