Terms of the signing, announced on the team's Web site, weren't disclosed.

Henson was signed after second-year quarterback Drew Stanton sprained the thumb on his throwing hand in practice Thursday. He will be sidelined about a month.

The 28-year-old Henson shared quarterback duty at Michigan with Tom Brady. He played three seasons as a third baseman in the New York Yankees' organization before the NFL's Houston Texans drafted him in the sixth round, 192nd overall, in 2003.

Henson was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2004, started one game and was released at the end of the 2006 preseason. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings, who released him after training camp in 2007.