Cowboys can thank Dan Quinn's questionable decision for newest pass rusher

The injury bug normally makes sporadic appearances, but it took a huge chunk out of the Dallas Cowboys last week in the form of defensive stars Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. Parsons could be held out through the Week 7 bye, while Lawrence was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.

In typical Cowboys fashion, they reportedly are not considering a blockbuster trade to overcome these injuries.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler all but ruled out a move for disgruntled Jets star Haason Reddick, and team owner Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan that Dallas would look internally to fill the void. Jones floated the possibility of external options, but the search would not extend beyond other teams practice squads.

Well, shortly after Jones' interview the Cowboys poached second-year pro K.J. Henry off the Bengals' practice squad. Henry was one of the most productive pass rushers this preseason, but it wasn't enough for Dan Quinn to put him on the 53-man roster.

While Henry doesn't hold any grudges with Quinn or the Commanders, he was left dumbfounded when he found out he didn't make the team. It wasn't a clear path, but Quinn's decision paved the way for Henry to join Dallas.

Cowboys fans can thank Dan Quinn for new pass rusher K.J. Henry

'Very. I'm not gonna lie. Very surprised, but it's okay. It's a blessing," Henry told the Bengals media after he was claimed by Cincinnati..."I haven't really put much thought to it after the decision. I can say I was genuinely surprised but it's out of my control..."

Henry put together a dominant preseason for the Commanders so it's easy to understand why he was stunned when he got cut.

Among 43 players who logged at least 50 pass-rush snaps, Henry's 79.8 pass-rush grade ranked third, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He finished fourth with 10 pressures, tied for first with nine hurries and placed third with a 20.8% pass-rush win percentage. It only resulted in one sack, but Henry was virtually unstoppable.

Rather than keep Henry, Quinn decided to roll with old friends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler, as well as Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Clelin Ferrell and former-linebacker-turned-pass-rusher Jamin Davis as his defensive ends. Entering Week 5, Armstrong is the only member of that group with more than two sacks and a pass-rush grade north of 57.0.

That's not to say Henry would have set the world on fire in Washington, but you can certainly understand his shock and disappointment that he didn't make the cut in a lackluster DE room.

A fifth-round pick of the Commanders last year, Henry played just 10 total snaps in two games with the Bengals. In light of the injuries to Lawrence and Parsons, Henry could have more than enough playing time to prove Quinn wrong for cutting him loose.

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