FRISCO, Texas — The ramifications of losing a player like Micah Parsons for any amount of time could be massive for the Dallas Cowboys, and adding the loss of DeMarcus Lawrence for several weeks instantly creates a hemorrhaging at defensive end that requires a tourniquet of some kind — KJ Henry hoping to help become exactly that.
Henry is expected to depart the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad this week and sign with the Cowboys, a poaching of talent that will combine with rookie second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland, Chauncey Golston and Carl Lawson to try and stop the bleeding at defensive end.
A former fifth-round pick of the Washington Commanders in 2023, Henry made his way to the Bengals after being claimed off of waivers a few months later, then waived but re-signed to their practice squad, where he's resided since.
That is until now.
The former Clemson standout brings a mix of youth and experience to the mix, having played in 10 games during his first two NFL seasons (3 starts), finishing the 2023 season with 19 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, two pass break ups and 1.5 sacks. An All-ACC talent for the Tigers, Henry is looking to establish himself at the professional level and could get an opportunity to begin doing so for the Cowboys as early as Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at roughly 255 pounds, Henry is a true edge rusher and not one who'll often be moved inside, or at least that's not been his bread and butter thus far in the NFL. He can also contribute on special teams, his splits breaking down as follows since 2023:
- 2023 - 347 total (269 defense, 78 special teams)
- 2024 - 17 total (10 defense, 7 special teams)
There may not be much ramp up needed, considering his time with the Commanders was spent under current Cowboys' defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina.
He logged nine pressures and six quarterback hits as a rookie for Zgonina and the Commanders, along with four stuffed runs and 14 tackles in run defense.
Henry will be added to the active roster, as required by the NFL for all players who are poached from an opposing practice squad, where he must remain for a minimum of three weeks — his initial window to prove himself for an edge-needy Cowboys that also lost Sam Williams to a torn ACL to begin training camp.
