Stephen Bowen

Former Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and New York Jets DE Stephen Bowen announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday. Bowen played 10 seasons in the league.

Fantasy Impact

After 10 seasons with three teams including the Jets, Cowboys, and Redskins, defensive end Stephen Bown announced his retirement from the NFL. During his career, Bowen accumulated 177 tackles, 12.5 sacks, nine pass deflections and a forced fumble.

Washington Redskins' defensive end Stephen Bowen provides an $8 million cap hit in 2015. In order to retain him the team will likely try to give him a pay cut, or they may outright release him.

Fantasy Impact

Bowen will be 31 before next season and is one of the three highest paid players on the defense, but his pay does not reflect his performance. He had a disappointing 2014, spending the beginning of this season on the sidelines due to recovering from microfracture surgery on his knee. He did finish the season on a high note, playing at 100 percent, but it took him the majority of the season to get there. The team feels like he is expendable, so if he doesn't want a pay cut, he may have a new home in 2015.

The Washington Redskins still have not made their decision as to whether they want to take defensive end Stephen Bowen off of the PUP list. He was placed on the list when training camp started due to his recovery from microfracture knee surgery. Bowen still had swelling and soreness in his knee during Thursday's practice. The team has a deadline to take him off of the PUP list by August 30 at 4 p.m.

Fantasy Impact

The team will most likely decide to keep Bowen on the PUP list to start the season, which would keep him out for a six week minimum. If his knee was healthy enough for him to be an active participator during preseason practices and games, then he would've had a great shot at starting at DE for the team. That probably will not be the case now, no matter whether he gets taken off the PUP list by next Saturday or not. Even so, he probably wouldn't have been racking up enough numbers as a starter to be a viable fantasy option in IDP leagues anyway.

Redskins DL Stephen Bowen has agreed to restructure his contract, saving the Redskins $1.9 million on the 2014 salary cap.

Fantasy Impact

The move by the Redskins and Bowen ostensibly frees up some cap space potentially allowing the team some flexibility to sign free agents released by other teams. Bowen was effective when healthy last season and may begin the season on PUP. If he retains his starting role, Bowen is a serviceable backup lineman. However, he has virtually no upside potential in keeper and dynasty leagues.