Stephen

Bowen

Coach Mike Shanahan called the situation “not good,” but refused to rule Bowen out for Sunday. In all likelihood, Bowen won’t play against the Jets, but he should be able to avoid injured reserve. In the first season of a five-year, $27.5 million deal, Bowen has tallied 29 tackles and five sacks.

He’s sitting out OTAs, but expects to be 100 percent in 2-4 weeks. Bowen suffered a third-degree right PCL tear last November, but says the operation "(wasn’t) really” related. Bowen played through the injury, appearing in all 16 games. He’s unlikely to participate in June’s mandatory minicamp, but sounds like he’ll be ready for training camp.

Bowen is in the same boat as Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs. The Redskins’ starting right end, Bowen has just 24 tackles and one sack, but has graded out as a top-13 3-4 defensive end in Pro Football Focus’ rankings.

Bowen tore the biceps in Week 15 but still finished out the season. A $27.5 million free-agent pickup from Dallas in 2011, Bowen has been a plus run defender through 32 starts as a Redskin. He’ll be a starter again in 2013.

The Redskins placed Bowen on I.R. last week, and coach Mike Shanahan said the team was determining whether the soon-to-be 30-year-old end would need the operation. Bowen will be pushing it to be ready for training camp; microfracture is one of the tougher surgeries to come back from. His age isn’t helping him.

Bowen underwent microfracture surgery in December and is out until mid-summer at soonest. There is some question about his availability for training camp. Turning 30 next month, Bowen came in 40th among 45 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus’ 3-4 defensive end ratings. He’s owed $4.5 million in 2014.

Bowen was inactive for Monday’s loss to the 49ers. According to coach Mike Shanahan, he may require microfracture surgery. It’s yet another blow to the Redskins’ beleaguered defense, but Bowen had not been playing well this season, notching only 19 tackles and zero sacks in 422 snaps. He graded out as a bottom-six 3-4 end in Pro Football Focus’ ratings. Going on 30, Bowen is signed through 2015, but has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract.

Bowen entered the league in 2006 as an UDFA out of Hofstra and spent the first five years of his career with the Cowboys before joining the Redskins in 2010 and becoming a full-time starter in D.C. Primarily a run stopper, Bowen recorded 12.5 career sacks, with six coming in 2010. He played for the Jets in 2015.

Bowen is a 30-year-old trying to recover from microfracture surgery, a tall feat for even the most physically fit. He’s currently penciled in as the Redskins’ No. 4 end, behind starters LE Chris Baker and RE Jason Hatcher and top reserve Jarvis Jenkins. Bowen’s due $4.5 million and may not be long for the roster.

The Redskins showed faith in Bowen’s recovery by placing him on the active/PUP list instead of cutting him and his $7 million cap charge. Bowen is currently penciled in as the Washington’s No. 4 end behind Jason Hatcher, Chris Baker, and top reserve Jarvis Jenkins.