Chargers training camp report, Day 2: Daiyan Henley INT a sign of more playmaking to come?

New York Times

a day ago

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley endured a long wait for his first NFL interception.
The 2023 third-round pick played sparingly on defense as a rookie. Then came a regime change and a new opportunity under coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Henley earned a starting job in his second season, but the interception still eluded him.
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Henley ended up waiting until the very last game of the regular season. He intercepted Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell late in the first half of a win. Teammates rushed over to Henley to celebrate. The reaction revealed so much about what this play meant to Henley. 'Being in this league, and they call you a coverage linebacker,' Henley said in the postgame locker room, 'you can't leave without an interception at some point.'
It took Henley 32 games to intercept his first NFL pass. It took him just two days to come away with his first pick of 2025 training camp.
The Chargers starters matched up in 11-on-11 drills late in Friday's practice. The offense, led by quarterback Justin Herbert, faced a third-and-5. This was the first third-down rep of camp so far. Herbert took the snap, dropped back and scanned the field. He was eyeing receiver Ladd McConkey — his favorite third-down target — on a crossing route. Henley had dropped into a zone coverage over the middle and was reading Herbert.
Herbert fired at McConkey. He apparently did not see Henley patrolling. Henley snatched the fastball and took it the other way.
'He knows that we believe in him,' Minter said of Henley. 'He knows that we just want him to be himself and be the best version.'
Henley had a breakout season in 2024. He started the year in a rotation at inside linebacker, but he quickly took over a full-time starting role. He wore the green dot for the defense as the player who relayed the calls from Minter to the huddle. He became a leader and difference-maker for a Chargers defense that allowed the second-fewest points in the league.
'Daiyan is going into this year at a little bit different level,' Minter said Friday. 'We don't want to take that guy off the field.'
The scary part: Henley has so much room to grow. He has the potential to be among the best off-ball linebackers in football. To get there, he must make plays like he did in Friday's practice — game-changing plays.
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Henley led the Chargers with 147 tackles last season. He finished second among linebackers with eight passes defended. But he also left plays on the field. He had one sack to go along with his one interception. Henley had chances to increase those numbers. Like when he missed a sack on Patrick Mahomes late in a heartbreaking loss in Week 14. Or when he had an interception slip through his hands over the middle in a Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns.
If Henley can take advantage of those opportunities, he has a chance to elevate from good starter to All-Pro.
His teammates think he is capable.
'I want him to do everything, because I feel like he has that (potential) to be an All-Pro player,' safety Derwin James Jr. said in June. 'Not just Pro Bowl, but All-Pro player.'
Henley wants to be that type of player.
'The biggest thing about expectations like that is they have to start within,' Henley said earlier this offseason. 'It's not something that people should bestow upon you. You have to want that for yourself to go get it, and that's always been my goals and aspirations, is to be that type of guy and be that type of player in this league for years to come.'
In the period before Henley's interception, the Chargers starters matched up in an 11-on-11 two-point conversion drill. The offense started from the two-yard line and had one play to score. On the first play of that period, Herbert connected with McConkey in the middle of the end zone. Herbert split Henley and Denzel Perryman, the two inside linebackers. Henley just missed a pass breakup. (Herbert actually would have been sacked on the play by Khalil Mack, but the play was not blown dead by coaches.)
The Chargers paused for a water break after the period. Henley and Perryman walked over to the video board on the sideline, which was replaying the film of the touchdown from Herbert to McConkey. They spent a few minutes watching the play over and over and discussing what went wrong.
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'He's just so dialed into wanting to be perfect every play,' Minter said Henley. 'You're never going to be perfect, but you really just chase execution and being in the right spot. And when you do that, it allows you at times for your natural ability to take over.'
Minter added: 'If we just play to our standard, all those things, individual-wise, take care of themselves.'
• A day after agreeing to his rookie contract, receiver Tre' Harris was on the field for Friday's practice and participated fully. Harris worked in with the first-team offense and caught two passes from Justin Herbert, including a conversion in the third-down period that closed practice. Harris came free on an in-breaking route over the middle. He showed some savvy and feel by sitting the route down in a vacated space. Harris also won a slant route earlier in practice and sped away from defenders for yards after the catch.
Harris is going to have to earn his reps. Including Harris, the Chargers rotated six receivers in with the first-team offense Friday. Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Jalen Reagor, KeAndre-Lambert-Smith and Derius Davis also got reps with Herbert. McConkey caught six Herbert passes in team drills. Johnston caught a 53-yard touchdown from Herbert on a corner route. Lambert-Smith and Johnston both lined up as the X receiver in three-receiver packages.
Mike Williams' retirement leaves Harris as the likely candidate to be the X receiver for the Chargers. It will still be a heated competition. There are two outside receiver spots open around McConkey, the Chargers' No. 1 option, who is at his best in the slot.
• Harbaugh said Thursday that he would continue to rotate Zion Johnson and Bradley Bozeman at left guard and center during camp. He followed through on that Friday. Bozeman was at left guard with the first team offense. Johnson was at center. The pads are not on yet, so it is impossible to truly evaluate offensive line play. But one note: Herbert bobbled a couple of Johnson's snaps. One snap in the two-point-conversion period was very high and led to a busted play. Johnson has not played center in college or the NFL.
• Rookie safety RJ Mickens flashed twice in a four-play stretch of 11-on-11. On the first play, Mickens was in coverage on tight end McCallan Castles near the right sideline. Castles ran an out route. Mickens broke hard on the route from depth. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke delivered an accurate ball, and Castles made the initial catch. But Mickens jarred the ball loose with a violent punch, forcing the incompletion.
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Later in the same series, the offense faced a fourth-and-1 from around midfield. Heinicke faked a handoff before rolling to his right. Receiver Dez Fitzpatrick had leaked across the field to the deep right corner amid the play action. He was open. Heinicke stopped his roll and floated a pass to Fitzpatrick. Mickens recognized the play fake and retreated before picking off the throw.
'I see a young guy that has a great intent about him of what he wants to do, how he wants to get better,' Minter said of Mickens. 'I think he's been well-trained in his college career of just how to play, some instincts. And so a competitive player in a competitive situation in that room that's got a good skillset, and look forward to seeing how that shakes out.'
The back end of the Chargers' safety depth chart will be fascinating to watch. The top three safeties are set: James, Alohi Gilman and Elijah Molden, once he is activated off the physically unable to perform list. Veteran Tony Jefferson has a grasp on that fourth safety spot right now. But Mickens has a chance to push him if he keeps making plays like he did Friday. And one other name to watch in this competition: Kendall Williamson, who could be a major factor on special teams.
• Two Chargers were not at practice: running back Raheim Sanders and right guard Mekhi Becton. The Philadelphia Eagles held their Super Bowl ring ceremony Friday. Becton was a starter on that Eagles team. Becton indicated on Instagram that he was attending the ceremony.