Redskins defensive end Stephen Bowen had been playing through a painful knee injury, but now has a bigger problem which could cost him more time.
According to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, Bowen has suffered cartilage damage which could require microfracture surgery, on top of the torn PCL which has limited him for the last month.
The Redskins put him on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday, replacing him on the roster by promoting wide receiver Josh Bellamy from the practice squad. They also waived cornerback Jerome Murphy.
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said bowen will have exploratory surgery on the knee, and there’s a good chance microfracture will be needed to repair the damage. That would put his recovery time in the six-month range, which would allow him to play next year. But microfracture’s also a bit of a last-ditch procedure, complicating the recovery for the 29-year-old defensive end.