Steelers reportedly bring K.J. Henry back to practice squad

Pittsburgh is bringing defensive end K.J. Henry back into its depth plans. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday that the Steelers are signing Henry after a Monday workout. Steelers Depot reported that the move is to the practice squad.

The report would give Henry another opportunity with an organization that carried him during the spring. It does not place him on Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster or confirm that he will play against Indianapolis on Sunday.

Garafolo said an injury had interrupted Henry’s training camp with San Francisco.

The 49ers’ official transaction log records Henry signing a one-year deal in July and being waived with an injury designation in August. Pittsburgh’s own records show that he signed a reserve/future contract in January before the Steelers released him in June. Those transactions explain the return: he has recent experience in Pittsburgh’s offseason program, rather than arriving as a player entirely new to the organization.

The Steelers have also been changing other parts of their defense. On Monday, the club announced that it signed cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting from Tampa Bay’s practice squad to the active roster, placed defensive lineman Derrick Harmon on injured reserve, signed linebacker Marte Mapu to the practice squad and waived Doneiko Slaughter.

Henry’s reported addition is a separate move. An edge defender joining the practice squad should not be treated as a confirmed replacement for Harmon’s interior snaps.

A fifth-round Washington pick in 2023, Henry has appeared in 15 regular-season games with three starts, according to Steelers Depot. He has 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks over those appearances. His rookie season accounted for 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

For RSO managers, the distinction between organizational depth and an active game role matters. Pittsburgh already has established outside linebackers, and Tuesday’s report does not assign Henry a snap share. An elevation or active-roster signing would be the next concrete step toward game availability; until then, the news expands the Steelers’ options rather than establishing a new fantasy starter.