The veteran tight end is bouncing back after a disappointing 2022 season.

Much like this season, the 2022 campaign also was a challenge for the New England Patriots offense. In Year 1 under long-time offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the unit and some of its players failed to build on the promise they had shown the previous season.

Among those seeing a drop-off in production was tight end Hunter Henry. One of the Patriots’ most productive players the previous year, finishing with 50 catches for 603 yards and a team-leading nine touchdowns, he failed to take the next step in his development due to a mix of injury and ineffectiveness within the new-look offense.

The Patriots’ offensive struggles have only identified this season, to a point where another total overhaul might be on the horizon. Henry, on the other hand, has been trending in the opposite direction.

While there are serious questions about his league-leading $15.5 million salary cap number for a tight end, he has been able to show improvement compared to last year as far as his involvement in the offense is concerned. After averaging just 2.4 catches and 0.1 touchdowns per game, he is now up to 2.7 and 0.4, respectively.

Is he living up to his price tag? From a statistical perspective, the answer is still no. However, Henry has been one of but a few bright spots in the otherwise barren wasteland that is the Patriots’ 2023 offense.

For his position coach, it all starts with his mix of athleticism and intelligence.

“A really smart football player, real savvy,” Patriots tight ends coach Will Lawing said about Henry earlier this week. “He’s a good athlete. He prepares the right way. Really, he’s just a good football player in general, but he also has a skillset where he can do a lot of different things for us. Not only his athleticism, but his smarts — he’s a well-rounded player.”

For Lawing, those smarts have allowed him to be flexible regardless of what the defense is presenting.

“When he gets different looks from the defense, he can react,” the assistant coach said. “It may be something he hasn’t seen in practice, but he gets a feel for what they’re trying to do for that particular play and how to manipulate the defense or the leverage that he may be getting from a defender in coverage. He does a good job of stuff like that.”

Henry joined the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent in 2021, signing a three-year, $37.5 million contract. He quickly proved himself a productive player in New England’s offense and became a go-to guy for rookie quarterback Mac Jones.

2022 was a step back for Henry. 2023, meanwhile, appears to be a step forward again.

So far this season, he has caught 35 passes for 353 yards — ranking fourth and third, respectively in those categories — as well as a team-leading five touchdowns. Two of those scores came in the Patriots’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last Thursday, including a spectacular full-extension grab on a throw from Bailey Zappe.

“He’s got great hand-eye coordination,” Lawing said about that play. “He does a good job. Not only does he have good hands, but he does a good job just focusing on each and every play. So, that’s definitely a strong suit for him.”

In a year filled with disappointment for the Patriots offense, Henry has been able to provide some sparks both on the field and as a team captain off of it. It has not been enough to pull the unit out of its year-long slump, but Henry has at least managed to return to playing the same role he held in 2021.

He is again a focal point of the Patriots offense.