2026 Trade Deadline: Henley Deal Between Broncos, Chargers Collapses

The Denver Broncos said a trade that would have sent linebacker Daiyan Henley to the team from the Los Angeles Chargers "will not be finalized," even though the deal was struck before the 2026 NFL trade deadline, according to OutKick.

Henley traveled to Denver and visited the Broncos' facility on Wednesday for a physical, a routine step in any trade but one that, in this case, appears to have derailed the move, OutKick reported. The outlet did not specify the medical finding behind the reversal, only that the physical "may have factored into the fallout."

What did the Broncos announce?

The Broncos' own language, as reported by OutKick, was blunt: the trade "will not be finalized" after the deadline had already passed. That phrasing matters in the NFL, where trades are often agreed to in principle before a deadline but are not official until players clear physicals administered by the acquiring team.

"will not be finalized"

That is how the Broncos themselves characterized the status of the deal, per OutKick's report.

Why did the physical become an issue?

NFL trades routinely include conditions tied to a player's health. When a physical raises concerns, teams have the option to walk away or renegotiate terms, even after a trade has been reported as done. OutKick's account ties the timing directly to Henley's Wednesday visit to Denver's facility, suggesting something uncovered there — rather than a change of heart by either front office — triggered the collapse.

How did the Chargers respond?

With Henley's move to Denver no longer happening, the Chargers kept him on their roster and marked the moment publicly. The team posted a graphic welcoming him back, a lighthearted acknowledgment of a trade that technically never closed.

What is the timeline of events?

• Before the NFL trade deadline: Broncos and Chargers agree in principle to send Henley to Denver.
• Wednesday: Henley arrives at the Broncos' facility for the physical required to finalize the deal.
• After the deadline: The Broncos announce the trade will not be completed.
• Following the announcement: The Chargers post a graphic welcoming Henley back to the roster.

Glossary: trade deadline and physical, explained

NFL trade deadline — The date by which teams must submit trades to the league office for approval during the regular season; deals agreed to after this date cannot be processed until the following year.

Physical — A medical examination an acquiring team conducts on a player before a trade is finalized; an unfavorable result can void or alter the terms of an otherwise completed deal.

Henley remains a Charger for now. Neither OutKick's report nor the Broncos' statement, as relayed by the outlet, detailed what specifically emerged from the physical, and no further explanation from either club's front office was included in the published account.