The Washington Redskins on Saturday announced that they have activated defensive end Stephen Bowen from the team's Reserve/Physically Unable to Peform (PUP) list.
In a corresponding move, the team placed linebacker Akeem Jordan on the Reserve/Injured (IR) list, ending his season.
Bowen — who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 300 pounds — has started all 42 games in which he has appeared with the Redskins since joining the organization as an unrestricted free agent Aug. 30, 2011.
He suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11 of the 2013 season, landing him on the operating table and on IR. His long recovery brought him back to the practice field this week for the first time.
If active, Bowen's recovery will be complete tomorrow, when the Redskins play host to the Tennessee Titans.
"I'm at 100 percent," Bowen said. "I feel good, could do everything, got all my strength back and I actually got stronger."
Prior to his injury, the nine-year veteran was putting together a solid campaign for the Redskins. Starting all 10 games, his season came to an end after he recorded 19 tackles – 11 solo – and a pass deflection.
Bowen started the season on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP), and, starting Wednesday, the Redskins had 21 days to evaluate his status and determine if they want to promote him to the 53-man roster, or leave him on the season-ending IR list.
Along with Bowen, wide receiver Leonard Hankerson also returned to action this past week after recovering from a torn lateral collateral ligament (LCL). Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said this week "both of them look pretty good," but that he thought Bowen "is probably a little bit more ready if he were to go."
After missing allmost 11 months, Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said it will take some time before Bowen is completely back in the swing of things.
"We started him out just running the scout team and then we actually put him in and got some reps," defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said on Thursday. "We worked him in a little bit more today. We'll work him in a little bit more tomorrow and then we'll see how he is."
Signed as a college free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 2006, Bowen spent the first five years of his career with the Redskins 'NFC East foe. Trading blue and white for burgundy and gold in 2011, Bowen has started all 42 games that he's appeared in with five pass deflections, 44 tackles and seven sacks.
While in Dallas, Bowen crossed paths with current Redskins teammate and best friend Jason Hatcher. The former Cowboy — who signed with the Redskins this offseason after a career-best 11-sack season — said he's been waiting "forever" to once again be lining up alongside Bowen.
"I've been waiting on that day forever," Hatcher said of Bowen's return. "I'm glad to have him back. He's a great and key component to this defense. He knows it inside and out and he's a hell of a ball player."
With his former Dallas comrade back in action, Hatcher hopes it can lay the ground work for what could be a dynamic duo sandwiched between outside linebackers Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo.
"He just knows it all and he can rush the passer," Hatcher said of Bowen. "Once he gets back healthy, hopefully they'll have me and him in the middle and it'll be pretty good, so I'm excited to have him back."
Bowen said this week that he were to be activated for Sunday's game, he'd be satisfied with getting in on a few plays to "get [his] feet wet" and "get comfortable again" after missing out on the past 11 months of action.
"I feel good. I'm happy," he said. "I'm just happy to be back with the guys and just working hard again and playing football, the game I love."
Jordan (6-1, 255) joined the Redskins as an unrestricted free agent March 19, 2014. He had been limited to just one appearance this season, Oct. 6 against the Seattle Seahawks, due to a knee injury.
Redskins.com's Brian Skinnell contributed to this report.
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