Chargers tight end Hunter Henry likely lost for the season with torn ACL

When preparing for the Raiders usual struggles covering tight ends, the two names that comes to mind most are Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Chargers tight end Hunter Henry. Kelce is an All Pro while Henry has had all the making of a future Pro Bowler as the replacement for former future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates.

Henry was about to set out for his first season out of Gates’s shadow, but those hopes may have come crashing down Tuesday with the team announcing Henry tore his ACL in the first OTA practice of the offseason.

The injury is likely to have him out all of the 2018 season as ACL tears typically take between six and nine months to recover.

The former 35th overall pick has caught 81 passes fo 1079 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons with the Chargers. He had a career high 90 yards on 5 catches against the Raiders in their first meeting last season — a 17-16 Raiders loss. He also gouged them his rookie season, catching a combined 6 of 8 for 111 yards and touchdowns in each contest.

The primary hopes for replacing him on the Chargers roster is newly signed former Broncos tight end Virgil Green. Though Green is not in the same universe in terms of talent with just 807 career receiving yards and 4 touchdowns in seven NFL seasons.

That’s a tough break for Henry and the Chargers and we wish him a full recovery and to see the 23-year-old back on the field next season.