Source -- Patriots, TE Hunter Henry agree to 3-year deal - ESPN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tight end Hunter Henry and the New England Patriots have agreed to a three-year deal for him to return to the team, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Henry, who turns 30 in December, was on pace to be the Patriots' leading receiver in 2023 before a left knee injury sustained in a Dec. 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs led him to miss the final three games. He finished with 42 catches for 419 yards and a team-high six touchdown receptions.

A team captain in 2023, Henry was scheduled for unrestricted free agency after playing the past three seasons in New England.

Before the knee injury, the 6-foot-5, 258-pound Henry had expressed how proud he was to have never missed a game since signing a three-year contract with the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent in March 2021.

Henry had spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Chargers and one of the knocks on him was durability.

«I was hurt a lot early in my career, couldn't catch a break. I had a lot of major injuries, and it was hard; couldn't stay on the field,» Henry said in December. «I take a lot of pride in trying to be available and as consistent as I can.»

Henry ultimately played 75% of the offensive snaps. Over his eight-year career, he has played in 103 regular-season games and totaled 329 catches for 3,853 yards with 38 touchdowns.

NFL Network first reported Henry's return to New England.