98 Sheldon Rankins DT

The Saints are exercising their fifth-year option on Rankins, who is expected to miss the early part of the 2019 season after suffering a torn Achilles on Jan. 13, The New Orleans Advocate reports.

The fifth-year option applies to 2020 and is guaranteed for injury only. It was probably an easy decision even with a lengthy rehab process ahead, as Rankins is coming off a breakout 2018 with 40 tackles (26 solo) and eight sacks in 16 games (all starts). The 12th overall pick from the 2016 NFL Draft recently celebrated his 25th birthday and likely will open his fourth pro season on the PUP list.

Rankins (Achilles) likely will open the 2019 regular season on the PUP list, which would rule him out for the first six weeks, Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate reports.

The 24-year-old defensive tackle suffered a torn Achilles in the divisional round of the playoffs, giving him less than eight months to recover before Week 1 of 2019. With their top defensive tackle expected to miss at least six games at the beginning of the season, New Orleans acquired some depth in the form of Malcom Brown, a 320-pounder who has started 51 games in four seasons since the Patriots selected him at No. 32 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. While he can't replace Rankins as a pass rusher, Brown should at least help against the run.

Rankins (Achilles) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Rankins suffered a torn Achilles in Sunday's divisional-round win over the Eagles, and is set to undergo surgery at some point this week. The Saints signed defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker to bolster their depth at the position, with Tyeler Davison likely to be the largest beneficiary of Rankins' absence.

An MRI has confirmed that Rankins tore his Achilles during Sunday's divisional-round victory over Philadelphia, Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate reports.

Rankins is in store for a lengthy recovery process that typically lasts 6-to-9 months for severe Achilles injuries. Thus, it's far from certain that he'll be ready to play in time for the 2019 season opener. In the interim, Taylor Stallworth figures to be much more involved in the defensive game plan for the remainder of the postseason.

Rankins is believed to have suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in Sunday's divisional-round game against the Eagles, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Rankins was carted off the first in the first quarter after suffering the previously undisclosed leg injury. The news couldn't be much worse for the 24-year-old, as a torn Achilles would likely spell an end to his season and result in an exhaustive recovery process. The injury is unlikely to be confirmed until after Sunday's game or perhaps Monday. Taylor Stallworth and David Onyemata are seeing increased roles at defensive tackle for the Saints.