KJ Henry expects to sign with the Cowboys following injuries to Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence

FRISCO, Texas – Losing a player like Micah Parsons for an extended period of time could have huge consequences for the Dallas Cowboys, and when you add in the loss of DeMarcus Lawrence for several weeks, you immediately have a defensive hemorrhage that requires some sort of tourniquet – KJ Henry I hope to help become just that.

Henry is expected to leave the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad this week and sign with the Cowboys, a talent factory that will team with rookie second-rounders Marshawn Kneeland, Chauncey Golston and Carl Lawson to try to stem the bleeding on defense to stop.

Henry, a former fifth-round pick of the Washington Commanders in 2023, ended up with the Bengals after being claimed off waivers a few months later.

The former Clemson star brings a mix of youth and experience, having played in ten games in his first two NFL seasons (three starts) and finishing the 2023 season with 19 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, two pass breakups, etc 1.5 bags. An All-ACC talent for the Tigers, Henry is looking to establish himself at the professional level and could get the opportunity to start doing so for the Cowboys as early as Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

At 6-foot-3 and weighing around 255 pounds, Henry is a true edge rusher and not one who is often moved indoors, or at least that hasn't been his bread and butter in the NFL so far. He can also play on special teams, and his splits have been distributed 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 of an upgrade needed considering he spent his time with the Commanders under current Cowboys defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina.

As a rookie for Zgonina and the Commanders, he recorded nine pressures and six quarterback hits, as well as 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 at least three weeks – his first window to prove himself to the Cowboys, who need a head start Also lost Sam Williams suffered a torn cruciate ligament at the start of training camp.