Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died this morning of complications from injuries sustained following a domestic dispute with his fiance.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Henry died at 6:36 a.m. this morning. He was 26 years-old.
According to the police, Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as a woman was driving away. Shortly after, he was thrown from the back of the truck.
The police would not identify the woman driving as Henry’s fiance Loleini Tonga. The couple had been raising three children.
Henry, who was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, was placed on injured reserve in November after suffering a broken forearm.
Henry had several off the field issues dating back to his days at the University of West Virginia. He had been suspended a total of 14 games in his career but many felt he was beginning to turn his life around.
In fact, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said during the HBO series Hard Knocks that Henry was on the verge of breaking out this season and be on the same level as Randy Moss.
Over the course of his five-year career, Henry caught 119 passes and 21 touchdowns while amassing 1,826 receiving yards.
Bengals President Mike Brown and head coach Marvin Lewis will speak to the media at 11 a.m. eastern time.
The Bengals are scheduled to play the San Diego Chargers at San Diego on Sunday.
