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Chargers Activate Tight End Hunter Henry For AFC Divisional Round Vs. Patriots

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Los Angeles Chargers are getting an offensive weapon back for Sunday's AFC divisional round showdown with the New England Patriots. The Chargers activated tight end Hunter Henry off the PUP list and onto their 53-man roster on Monday, making him eligible to play in this weekend's playoff matchup in Foxboro.

Henry missed the entire 2018 regular season after tearing his ACL on the first day of OTAs back in May, and just returned to practice for the Chargers on Dec. 17. But when he's on the field, the 24-year-old can be a force in the offensive game. Henry had 45 receptions for 579 yards and four touchdowns in 2017, starting 13 of his 14 games. As a rookie in 2016, Henry led the Chargers with eight touchdowns.

"He's a very talented player," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said of Henry on a conference call Monday. "He's got great receiving skills. He's a threat in the passing game to go along with their other threats in the passing game at receiver, tight end and running back. It gives them another weapon with a great quarterback who can use all of his weapons at all of the positions. Yeah, it's another brick on the pile that we'll have to deal with."

Given it's his first game since last season, Henry will likely be limited against the Patriots on Sunday (if he plays at all). Veterans Antonio Gates (28 receptions during regular season; four receptions for 35 yards Sunday Vs. Ravens) and Virgil Green were Philip Rivers' top tight end targets while Henry was sidelined during the regular season.

Tune in to Sunday's Patriots-Chargers divisional round clash on WBZ-TV -- the flagship station of the New England Patriots! Coverage begins Friday night with Patriots All Access at 7 p.m., and kicks off on Sunday with a special hour-long edition of Patriots GameDay at 11 a.m.! We'll break it all down and hear from Bill Belichick and Tom Brady LIVE on Patriots 5th Quarter on WBZ-TV after the game!

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