Seven hours prior to kickoff, the Los Angeles Chargers added Daiyan Henley to the injury report.
The linebacker so many forecast to have a phenomenal second season as a starter was suddenly questionable to play on Monday against the AFC West-rival Las Vegas Raiders.
Henley played and starred, intercepting Geno Smith on the game's first play from scrimmage to begin a stellar night for himself and the Chargers defense in a 20-9 win over Las Vegas.
"First of all, it's a blessing just to be out here with these guys," Henley told Sports Central LA's Chris Hayre. "Everything I do is for them. So, not 100 percent, 90 percent, whatever I got, I'm gonna give it to them. That first play was just to set the tone and let them know that we here. That was a play by the defense."
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The interception was the first of three on the evening for the Chargers, with Henley leading off what would be a night to remember as he put forth a sparkling stat line of 10 tackles, an interception, a sack, two passes defended and two tackles for loss.
Las Vegas' offense struggled to gain 218 yards of offense and was held out of the end zone.
"The defense, guardians of victories today," coach Jim Harbaugh said in his postgame news conference. "They had our back, our front, our side. It was just a tremendous defensive performance. The turnovers, three interceptions, the fourth-down stops. Incredible stop on the 20-play drive, over 11 minutes. We had the ball once in the third quarter, they had it once in the third quarter. To stop them to three points there -- guys just playing like it meant everything to them. Derwin (James), Daiyan Henley, playing with a fever, Da'Shawn Hand, Teair Tart, D-Jack (Donte Jackson), Tarheeb Still. Every single name you could go through. Tony Jefferson. Just incredible. Thank goodness for defense. They were the guardians of victory today."
Many of the Raiders' tribulations can be attributed to Henley, who might have woken up feeling feverish and unwell, but was anything but as Monday night carried on.
Setting the tone on the first play, he appeared to have wrapped up the win, as well, when he sacked Smith for an 11-yard loss on fourth-and-3 with 3:51 to play and the Chargers leading by the final score.
Los Angles gave the ball right back on a fumble, but the Chargers held strong for a turnover on downs.
"We're lucky to have him," L.A. quarterback Justin Herbert said of Henley. "He's a true competitor, and we know how bad he's feeling. But for him to show up and give us his best effort like that, he's a true leader on this team."
When the game came to a close, Henley had played all 65 defensive snaps for the Chargers, matched only by safeties Derwin James and Alohi Gilman.
He had his flu game and provided even more reason to believe he's a potential All-Pro in the making. A 2023 NFL Draft third-round pick by the previous Chargers regime, Henley didn't have a start as a rookie. That changed in 2024 with Harbaugh at the helm. Henley started all 17 games and racked up 147 tackles. He's garnered plenty of hype and hope ahead of the current campaign, and so far has delivered, as have the Chargers with a 2-0 start.
This was one to remember for Henley, though.
There was a chance he wouldn't play when the day began, and by night's conclusion he had remedied all ills with a stellar performance.
"Daiyan Henley, we elevated another linebacker because we just didn't know," Harbaugh said. "Had a fever, but once he started playing, the medicine was out there. It was out there on the field and it was great to see him have the game that he had. He's a rising star, you know, superstar. Just happy for him. Played incredible, as did just about everybody on our defense."