San Francisco 49ers Terminate Contract of Veteran Pass Rusher

The San Francisco 49ers have terminated the contract of veteran defensive end K.J. Henry, releasing the 27-year-old with an injury settlement after a brief and injury-interrupted stay in Santa Clara.

The move, recorded in team transactions this week, ends Henry’s tenure less than three weeks after he signed a one-year deal and opens a roster spot as the club continues to navigate a depleted defensive line during training camp.

Henry joined the 49ers on July 29 following a workout, one of several veterans brought in to add bodies at a position hit hard by injuries. Nick Bosa has been working his way back slowly, while first-round pick Mykel Williams began camp on the physically unable to perform list.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Henry, a fifth-round selection by the Washington Commanders in the 2023 draft out of Clemson, offered size, college production and a Super Bowl ring earned with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 15 career NFL games he has recorded 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks, most of that production coming as a rookie when he started three games for Washington.

The experiment lasted only a short time. Henry suffered an undisclosed injury in camp and was waived with an injury designation on Aug. 12.

After going unclaimed, he reverted to injured reserve the following day. Rather than keep him on the roster for the season, the 49ers and Henry reached a settlement that allowed the team to waive him from IR. He is now a free agent and can sign with another club once healthy.

The release is typical of the roster churn that defines August. The 49ers have already cycled through several defensive linemen this summer, signing and cutting players as they evaluate depth behind their established edges.

Henry’s departure follows a familiar pattern for a journeyman who has already been with Washington, Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Pittsburgh in his first three-plus seasons.

Teams often use these short-term contracts to fill camp numbers, then move on quickly when injuries or performance fail to create a roster foothold.

For Henry the next stop remains uncertain, though his combination of length and prior special-teams experience could still attract interest from clubs seeking late-summer insurance.

For the 49ers the transaction simply clears space as they prepare for the regular season and continue to monitor the health of their primary pass rushers.

In a league where depth at defensive end is always in flux, Henry’s short stay in San Francisco is another reminder of how quickly camp opportunities can close.