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New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Chargers training camp report, Day 2: Daiyan Henley INT a sign of more playmaking to come?
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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. Advertisement 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.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'The Harbaugh way': Even practice jerseys are a source of pride
It was a summer day in June, but Daiyan Henley was dressed for a prime-time moment. Fitted with long socks, white pants and a sleeve on his elbow, the Chargers linebacker's practice jersey was complete with game-ready lightning bolts on each shoulder. Other team's practice jerseys are plain. They're looser. They're more breathable. 'But this is us,' Henley said, running his fingertips over his crisp blue jersey. 'This is clean.' 'This,' he added, 'is the Harbaugh way.' Entering his second season at the helm as training camp begins Thursday, Jim Harbaugh is firmly woven into the fabric of the Chargers organization. The coach responsible for the franchise's best single-season turnaround in 20 years was the mastermind behind the team's new practice jersey patches. Already outfitted with their elevated practice jerseys, players now wear their biggest accomplishments on their chest with patches that celebrate personal victories while pushing for collective success. The patches represent eight accomplishments: Playoff wins, Chargers records, NFL records, All-Pro seasons, seasons as a team captain, Walter Payton Man of the Year, the NFL's Ed Block Courage Award, and the block of granite award determined by the Chargers strength and conditioning staff. The only player who has at least one of each is Derwin James Jr. The four-time team captain's right chest is plastered with three playoff appearances, three Chargers records, three NFL records, two nominations for man of the year, four All-Pro honors and one each of the courage and block of granite awards. He wants to collect enough patches to reach down to his ribs. "At the end of the day, we're all professionals, this is a professional league, but [the patches] kind of keep us connected and get a little bragging rights in the locker room,' James said. 'Guys want to compete for their jersey to look like that too." At Michigan, Harbaugh used helmet stickers to symbolize each player's accomplishments. The jersey patches remind the coach of the stripes on a general's uniform. "Some day, they'll be able to put that jersey up in a frame, put it on a wall, say something really good about themselves,' Harbaugh said. 'It'll be what they accomplished as a pro football player." The patches are Harbaugh's latest culture-setting innovation. He outfitted the locker room with personalized locker name tags that list each player's hometown, college, high school and recruiting ranking to promote team bonding. The coach handed out metal lunch pails and blue-collar work shirts customized with embroidered name tags to symbolize the team's hard-working mentality. Hoodies celebrated major victories such as the team's thriller against the Cincinnati Bengals, a late-season Thursday night victory over the Denver Broncos and the playoff-clinching win over the New England Patriots. 'He wants it to be close-knit, in house,' Henley said. 'Everything is love and football and family, and that's how we go about our business. Now that we have another year under our belt, we've had bad games and good games and we've gone the distance and also didn't accomplish what we wanted to, all of that wrapped into one, is what's motivating us and pushing us forward.' Read more: Chargers' Najee Harris sustains 'superficial eye injury' in fireworks incident After going 11-6 in Harbaugh's first regular season, the Chargers won't be a sleeper playoff contender again. With momentum from a successful start to the Harbaugh era, the team hopes to make consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 2009. 'We're far ahead of where we were last year, but there's still a lot of work to do,' quarterback Justin Herbert said during minicamp. 'I think guys have done a great job this offseason of showing up mentally prepared and being focused day in and day out.' Herbert's jersey patches require multiple rows of lightning bolt tally marks to display his numerous NFL and Chargers records. Yet the quarterback is missing a playoff win mark. Not only is he 0-2 in the postseason, both losses came in spectacular disasters. The Chargers blew a 27-point lead against Jacksonville in a 2022 wild-card game. He threw four interceptions against the Houston Texans last year. Despite Herbert's elite athleticism and arm talent, the 27-year-old will remain an afterthought in the quarterback hierarchy until he finds the playoff success that follows contemporaries Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. The prize they're all chasing is worth much more than a new jersey patch. Etc. The Chargers placed five players on the physically unable to perform list before training camp: S Elijah Molden, WR Mike Williams, WR Jaylen Johnson, LB Del'Shawn Phillips and T Savion Washington. Molden, who signed a three-year extension in February, underwent offseason knee surgery and missed all of the offseason program. He said in April that he expected to be ready for training camp. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Daiyan Henley ready for practice, Najee Harris on injury list as Los Angeles Chargers begin 2025 NFL preseason training camp
(Photo by Getty Images) Daiyan Henley is ready for camp after shoulder surgery, while Najee Harris recovers from an eye injury. The 2025 NFL preseason is officially underway as the Los Angeles Chargers became the first team to open training camp. Rookies and select players arrived last Saturday, with veterans joining them on Wednesday at the team's facility in El Segundo, California. Linebacker Daiyan Henley is cleared to fully participate after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, while running back Najee Harris is starting camp on the injury list as he recovers from a July 4 fireworks-related eye injury. The Detroit Lions will have their full roster on-site by Saturday. Both teams are preparing for the NFL Hall of Fame Game, which kicks off the preseason on July 31 in Canton, Ohio. Linebacker Daiyan Henley cleared for training camp after shoulder surgery Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley is set to fully participate in training camp despite undergoing offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. The injury happened early in 2024, but he managed to play every game last season. In fact, Henley finished the 2024 regular season and the team's only playoff appearance with 147 tackles, one sack, one interception and eight passes defended. He has said that he is ready for camp. As per Reuters, he said, 'I expect to be a full participant in camp.' Running Back Najee Harris is recovering from a fireworks injury that hurt his eye on the Fourth of July Running back Najee Harris is expected to begin training camp on the active/non-football injury list due to an eye injury. He was hurt on the Fourth of July when a fireworks mishap in Antioch, California, caused an explosion around 12.18 AM, injuring several people, including the 27‑year‑old running back. He was first treated at John Muir Hospital in Concord before being transferred to Stanford Hospital. His agent Doug Hendrickson said, as quoted in Reuters, 'Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees. Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.' He recently signed a one-year deal worth $5.25 million with incentives and is expected to split playing time with rookie Omarion Hampton. Harris is on track to return in time for the 2025 season. Najee Harris suffers eye injury in 4th of July fireworks 'mishap' | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC Teams are gearing up for joint practices and the Brazil opener Most NFL teams will report to camp by next Tuesday, including the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs. They'll face the Los Angeles Chargers on September 5 in Brazil, marking the league's first-ever regular season game in South America. This year, 29 teams are set to take part in joint practices, while just six clubs will hold training camps away from their home facilities. Also Read: 'Been a monster for years': Buccaneers DT Vita Vea ranks No. 76 on Top 100 NFL players of 2025 | NFL News - Times of India Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Los Angeles Chargers first NFL team to start training ahead of Hall of Fame Game
The Los Angeles Chargers are set to kick off NFL training camp, with veterans reporting to El Segundo. Linebacker Daiyan Henley anticipates full participation despite a past shoulder surgery. However, back Najee Harris will likely start on the non-football injury list due to a fireworks mishap, while most teams report next week, gearing up for joint practices. The Los Angeles Chargers, along with the Detroit Lions - whose full squad reports by Saturday - are the first two teams to have their complete rosters on site. (Image Credit: X) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Los Angeles Chargers will be the first NFL team to start training camp on Thursday, marking the official start of the league's preseason calendar. Rookies and select players reported to camp last Saturday, with veterans arriving on Wednesday at the team's facility in El Segundo, Chargers, along with the Detroit Lions - whose full squad reports by Saturday - are the first two teams to have their complete rosters on site. Both teams are preparing for the NFL/Hall of Fame Game, set for July 31 in Canton, Ohio, which will open the linebacker Daiyan Henley , who had offseason shoulder surgery after tearing his labrum early in 2024, announced he expects to be a full participant in camp. Despite the injury, Henley played all 17 regular-season games and the team's lone playoff appearance, recording 147 tackles, one sack, one interception, and eight passes back Najee Harris , however, is likely to begin camp on the active/non-football injury list due to a minor eye injury sustained in a Fourth of July fireworks mishap. The 27-year-old was treated at Stanford hospital and is expected to be ready for the 2025 season. Harris signed a one-year, $5.25 million deal with incentives and is projected to share backfield duties with rookie Omarion the league, most teams will report by next Tuesday, including the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs , who face the Chargers in Brazil on September year, 29 teams will participate in joint practices, with the majority hosting camps close to home. Only six clubs will hold training camp at off-site locations.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Time to work: Chargers first team to open training camp
The Los Angeles Chargers will be the first NFL team to kick off training camp on Thursday, after rookies and select players reported last Saturday and veterans arrived on Wednesday. The Chargers and the Detroit Lions -- with rookies reporting on Thursday and veterans on duty starting Saturday -- will be the first two teams with their entire squads on site. The Chargers, who hold camp in El Segundo, Calif., and the Lions (Allen Park, Mich.) open the preseason with the NFL/Hall of Fame Game on July 31 in Canton, Ohio. Chargers starting linebacker Daiyan Henley, who had offseason shoulder surgery, said on Wednesday that he expects to be a full participant at training camp. Henley, 25, tore his labrum early in the 2024 campaign and still started all 17 games as well as the lone playoff game. He totaled 147 tackles, one interception, one sack and eight passes defended during the regular season. Running back Najee Harris likely will begin camp on the active/non-football injury list as he is treated for what his agent called a 'superficial eye injury' from a Fourth of July fireworks incident, Chargers general manager Joe Horitz said Wednesday. Harris was expected to report on Wednesday to the team's facility in El Segundo after remaining in the Bay Area following the incident in Antioch, Calif., and treatment at Stanford hospital, Horitz said. Harris' agent, Doug Hendrickson, said following the mishap that the running back is expected to be ready for the 2025 season. The 27-year-old signed a one-year deal, $5.25 million deal with the Chargers in the offseason that could be worth up to an additional $4 million if he meets all incentives for rushing yardage. Harris and first-round draft pick Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) are expected to be the team's main ball carriers. Harris topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and has 4,312 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 68 NFL games (all starts). The Steelers selected him 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, and Harris made the Pro Bowl and the NFL All-Rookie team that season. He became a free agent after the 2024 season. The 2025 regular season starts on Thursday, Sept. 4 with the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys will have their full squad on site on Monday, while the defending Super Bowl champions will do the same on Tuesday. The Kansas City Chiefs, who face the Chargers in the league's second regular-season game in Brazil on Sept. 5, will have their full squad on site on Monday. There will be 30 clubs fully reported by Tuesday, while the Atlanta Falcons and Steelers are having players report on July 23. This year's training camps will feature 29 clubs scheduling joint practices with other teams, and 26 clubs (81.3 percent) will hold the majority of camp at their practice facility, home stadium or at a site within 10 miles of team headquarters. By comparison, 10 of the 31 teams in 2000 chose to stay home. Six clubs are holding camps away from their facilities: Buffalo Bills (Rochester, N.Y.), Cowboys (Oxnard, Calif.), Indianapolis Colts (Westfield, Ind.), Chiefs (St. Joseph, Mo.), Rams (Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles) and Steelers (Latrobe, Pa.). Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
