The Texans are slated to sign Rankins (illness) to a one-year, $7 million contract, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Rankins inked a two-year, $24.5 million deal with Cincinnati last offseason, but the Bengals opted to release him after a 2024 campaign in which he missed the first three games of the year due to a hamstring issue and the final seven contests due to an illness. Now healthy, the 30-year-old run stopper will shore up Houston's defensive line, which could lose both Mario Edwards and Folorunso Fatukasi to free agency.
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Sheldon Rankins: Let go by Cincinnati
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The Bengals released Rankins (illness) on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
An illness prevented Rankins from practicing or playing since Week 10, and he ended the season on the reserve/non-football illness list. He started in seven games for the Bengals last season and finished with 10 tackles (eight solo), including 1.0 sacks. It's unclear if his illness will linger into the offseason, but once fully healthy, Rankins will be on the lookout for a team in need of veteran depth on the defensive line.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Lands on NFI list
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The Bengals placed Rankins on the reserve/non-football illness list Monday.
Rankins has been unable to practice or play since Week 10 against Baltimore due to an illness. His placement on the NFI list means he won't be able to play in the Bengals' regular-season finale against the Steelers on Saturday. However, he would be eligible to return if the Bengals qualify for the postseason and make it to the Super Bowl. Rankins will end the 2024 regular season with 18 tackles (10 solo), including 1.0 sacks, across seven games.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Out again for Week 16
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Rankins (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Browns.
Rankins will miss his fifth straight game due to the illness. B.J. Hill, McKinnley Jackson and Jay Tufele should continue to handle the bulk of the work on the interior of Cincinnati's defensive line.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Missing Week 15
Rotowire
Rankins (illness) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Titans.
Rankins fell ill before the Bengals' Week 11 loss to the Chargers and is now in line to miss his fourth consecutive game Sunday with the issue. While the veteran defensive tackle remains sidelined in Week 15, expect McKinnley Jackson to see increased snaps with Cincinnati's first-team defense.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Won't play Monday vs. Dallas
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Rankins (illness) has been ruled out for Monday's game against teh Cowboys, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Rankins will miss his third straight game due to an illness, and given his extended absence, it's unclear whether he'll be able to suit up for the Bengals' Week 15 contest against the Titans on Sunday, Dec. 15. McKinnley Jackson, Kris Jenkins and Jay Tufele will continue to see increased snaps at defensive tackle next to starter B.J. Hill for as long as Rankins is sidelined.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: DNP on Thursday
Rotowire
Rankins (illness) did not practice Thursday.
Rankins came down with an illness in the week leading up to Week 11 against the Chargers, and even with the Week 12 bye, he still didn't feel well enough to play against the Steelers this past Sunday. Rankins will have to return to practice over the next two days in order to be cleared to play against Dallas on Monday.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Won't play Week 13
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Rankins (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Rankins missed Cincinnati's Week 11 game against the Chargers due to the illness, and he's not well enough to suit up Sunday despite the Bengals being on bye last week. McKinnley Jackson, Kris Jenkins and Jay Tufele all could see increased defensive snaps with Rankins out Sunday. Rankins' next opportunity to suit up will be Monday, Dec. 9 versus Dallas.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Still under the weather
Rotowire
Rankins (illness) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Rankins was a late addition to the Bengals' injury report heading into Week 11 against the Chargers due to an illness, which ultimately forced him to be inactive for the contest. Even after the Week 12 bye, it appears Rankins is still feeling under the weather, and it's unclear whether it will affect his practice participation over the next two days. If the illness is serious enough to force Rankins to be sidelined against the Steelers on Sunday, McKinnley Jackson and Kris Jenkins would see increased snaps at defensive tackle alongside starter B.J. Hill.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Ready for Sunday
Rotowire
Rankins (hamstring) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Eagles.
Rankins upgraded to full participation in Friday's practice after logging limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday, so it appears he's moved past his hamstring injury. Expect the 30-year-old to start alongside B.J. Hill as part of the Bengals' top interior defensive line duo Sunday.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Out again for Week 4
Rotowire
Rankins (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Rankins will miss his second consecutive contest, and fellow interior lineman B.J. Hill (hamstring) is doubtful to face Carolina after he also missed Week 3 versus Washington. Zachary Carter, Jay Tufele and rookie Kris Jenkins soaked up the majority of the snaps inside against the Commanders and will likely do the same this week.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Doesn't practice again
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Rankins (hamstring) did not participate in Friday's practice session, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Rankins has been held out of the first two practices of the week due to a hamstring injury he sustained in Week 2 against Kansas City. He's unlikely to suit up Monday against the Commanders unless he's able to practice in at least a limited capacity Saturday. Zachary Carter and Jay Tufele would be thrust into the starting defensive tackle roles if both Rankins and B.J. Hill (hamstring) are unable to play Monday.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Returns to practice Wednesday
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Rankins (shoulder) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.
Rankins sat out practice Tuesday due to a shoulder injury, but he was able to log a limited session one day later. Given the stakes of Saturday's wild-card contest versus Cleveland, the defensive tackle seems likely to suit up, though his participation level in practice Thursday could provide more clarity on the seriousness of the shoulder issue. Rankins registered 6.0 sacks this season in his first campaign in Houston.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Set to play Saturday
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Rankins (ankle) is active for Saturday's game against the Colts, Drew Dougherty of the Texans' official site reports.
Rankins was a limited participant in Thursday's practice and will be good to go for the Texans' regular-season finale. He has 36 tackles (28 solo), including 6.0 sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown over 14 games this season.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Questionable for Saturday
Rotowire
Rankins (ankle) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Colts.
The defensive tackle missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday before participating on a limited basis in Thursday's session. Rankins sat out two games earlier in the season with a knee injury but has been healthy for the last eight. If he's unable to suit up Saturday, Kurt Hinish should see more snaps.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Scores in win
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Rankins had two tackles, including one sack, and a 13-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in Sunday's 26-3 win over Tennessee.
Houston's defense had a statement game, and Rankins was in the middle of it. Defensive end Jerry Hughes dislodged the ball from quarterback Will Levis, and Rankins had an unencumbered path to the end zone for the Texans' first touchdown scored by the defense in 2023. The interior lineman has 36 tackles, including six sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery over 14 games.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Available Sunday
Rotowire
Rankins (ankle) is active ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans, Drew Dougherty of the Texans' official site reports.
The 29-year-old defensive tackle was able to log a limited session Friday after beginning the Texans' week of practice with back-to-back DNPs, and it now seems as if he'll be able to play through his ankle issue in Week 17. Rankins has appeared in 13 games for Houston this year, recording 34 total tackles, including seven tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Questionable for Week 17
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Rankins (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game versus Tennessee.
Rankins logged a limited practice Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday. The 29-year-old veteran has played in 13 of 15 games to this point, managing 34 tackles (26 solo), including 5.0 sacks among his seven tackles for loss as an interior lineman.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Ready to go Sunday
Rotowire
Rankins (elbow) is active Sunday against the Broncos.
Rankins returned to practice in a limited fashion Friday after logging DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday. His ability to take the field Sunday should be a boost for the Texans' defensive front.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Questionable for Sunday vs. Broncos
Rotowire
Rankins (elbow) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Broncos.
Rankins was able to manage limited participation at practice Friday after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday, giving himself a shot to play in Week 13. If he sits out though, Kurt Hinish would probably start in his place on the defensive line.
