KJ Henry expected to sign with Cowboys after injuries to Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence

FRISCO, TX – The ramifications of losing a player like Micah Parsons for an extended period of time could be huge for the Dallas Cowboys, and adding the loss of DeMarcus Lawrence for several weeks immediately causes a hemorrhage on the defensive end that will require some sort of tourniquet – K.J. Henry hoping to become just that.

Henry is expected to leave the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad this week and sign with the Cowboys, a talent poaching that will combine with second-round rookie Marshawn Kneeland, Chauncey Golston and Carl Lawson to try to stem the bleeding to stop on the defensive end.

A former 2023 fifth-round pick of the Washington Commanders, Henry made his way to the Bengals after being claimed off waivers a few months later, then waived but re-signed to their practice squad, where he has remained ever since.

The former Clemson standout brings a mix of youth and experience. He played in 10 games over his first two NFL seasons (three starts) and finished the 2023 season with 19 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, two pass breakups and 1.5 sacks. An All-ACC talent for the Tigers, Henry is looking to establish himself at the professional level and could get a chance to do so for the Cowboys as early as Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

At 6-foot-4 and weighing around 255 pounds, Henry is a true edge rusher and not someone who is moved inside often, or that hasn’t been his bread and butter thus far in the NFL. He can also contribute on special teams, with his breakdown since 2023 breaking down as follows:

• 2023 – 347 total (269 defense, 78 special teams)
• 2024 – 17 total (10 defense, 7 special teams)

It might not take much, considering his time with the Commanders was spent under current Cowboys defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina.

He recorded 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 poached from an opposing practice squad, where he must remain for a minimum of three weeks — his first stint to prove himself for a cash-strapped Cowboys who also lost Sam Williams with a torn ACL to start training camp.