The Dallas Cowboys are signing pass rusher K.J. Henry to a two-year deal amid key injuries to the team’s defense heading into Week 5, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Henry, who was signed from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad, recorded 1.5 sacks and 19 combined tackles in 10 appearances for the Washington Commanders during his rookie 2023 season.
The Cowboys are expecting to play on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers without both star edge rusher Micah Parsons and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Parsons is expected to be sidelined for Sunday’s game with a high ankle sprain, per Archer, which will mark just the second game the three-time Pro Bowler has missed in four NFL seasons.
Lawrence, who similarly started every game for the Cowboys over his own Pro Bowl seasons in 2022 and 2023, will miss his first game of the season with a right foot sprain, is a “likely” injury reserve candidate with a projected recovery timeline for four to eight weeks, Archer reported.
The losses of both the Cowboys’ top pass rusher and run defender is a particularly difficult blow for the Dallas defense given the offseason losses of defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. and defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins.
The Cowboys have subsequently struggled to limit opponents’ run game. Although Dallas was successfully able to stymy New York Giants running backs in last Thursday’s win, the Cowboys allowed a combined 464 rushing yards against in losses to the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens the weeks prior.
After Lawrence and Parsons both exited the win over the New York Giants, the Cowboys turned to 2024 second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland and fourth-year backup Chauncey Golston to fill in as defensive ends.
Behind them on the depth chart are Tyrus Wheat and practice squad defensive end Carl Lawson. Henry will now provide some more depth at the position ahead of Sunday’s contest against the Steelers.
A fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft out of Clemson, Henry was one of the Commanders’ final roster cuts this preseason. The Bengals claimed Henry off waivers the following day but cut him weeks later.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has indicated his team does not plan on pursuing a trade for a replacement for Lawrence and Parsons, so it looks like Dallas will be hoping Kneeland, Golston and Henry can fill in for the missing starters, at least for now.
