Redskins' Leonard Hankerson, Stephen Bowen return to practice

Washington Redskins wide receiver Leonard Hankerson and defensive lineman Stephen Bowen made their long-awaited returns to the practice field Wednesday.

Both players were placed on the physically unable to perform list in July and have yet to play this season.

Hankerson is working his way back from an ACL injury he sustained in Week 11 of last season. He said his knee is back to 100 percent, but he still experiences the occasional flare-up.

"No matter how much I've done the past couple months, football speed is different than just going out there and running routes on your own," Hankerson said, according to Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "So you have to get out there and move around, and hope it comes back."

Bowen, who underwent microfracture surgery on his knee in December, said he feels ready to rejoin the lineup.

"It's been hard," he said. "It's been frustrating, but it's over now. I just had to be patient, and I'm happy to be a part of the team again."

The Redskins now have a three-week evaluation period during which they must decide whether to add Hankerson and Bowen to the active roster or cut them.