98 Sheldon Rankins DT

Rankins finished with two tackles (both solo), one sack and a tackle for a loss in the Saints' 21-9 win over the Bears on Sunday.

Rankins was the only Saints defender to sack Mitchell Trubisky on the afternoon. He finished the 2020 season with just 1.5 sacks -- the lowest mark of his five-year career -- but he'll look to get back on track in this year's playoffs. His next chance to get to the quarterback will come in the NFC divisional round against Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.

Rankins (knee-MCL) was activated off injured reserve Saturday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Rankins missed the past four weeks dealing with an MCL sprain, but the defensive tackle should be full throttle Sunday against the Falcons. The 2016 first-round pick has played over 60 percent of the defensive snaps just once this season.

Rankins (knee - MCL) has been designated to return from IR, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

The move opens Rankins' 21-day practice window and offers the possibility that the fifth-year defensive tackle could play in Sunday's game versus Denver. Rankins' return to the field would be a boost to a Saints defensive front that has shuffled replacements during his absence.

The Saints place Rankins (knee) on injured reserve Friday, Luke Johnson of NOLA.com reports.

Rankins has missed practice all week while tending to a mild MCL sprain, and now he'll miss a minimum of three games. He'll be eligible to return Week 12 against the Broncos, and with no serious damage to his knee, that timeline looks realistic. David Onyemata should bump into a starting defensive tackle role until Rankins returns, and there should be a fair amount of reps left behind for Malcolm Roach and Shy Tuttle.

Rankins was sidelined at Thursday's practice due to a knee injury.

Thursday marked the second consecutive missed practice for Rankins, so his chances to suit up in Sunday night's game against Tampa Bay appear in some jeopardy. Rankins left last week's win over Chicago with the knee injury, which was believed to be a mild MCL sprain. There were no reports of serious damage from his MRI on Monday, but if Rankins is forced to miss Week 9, David Onyemata would be in line for a start at defensive tackle.

Rankins (knee) is believed to have suffered a mild MCL sprain during Sunday's 26-23 win over the Bears, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rankins' initial diagnosis appears to have brought good news, after the 26-year-old defensive tackle went down with what appeared to be a serious injury versus Chicago. He's scheduled for an MRI on Monday to officially confirm the severity of his knee issue.

Rankins (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Bears due to a knee injury, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Rankins was forced out of the first half of Sunday's contest due to what appeared to be a significant left knee injury, but he was able to walk to the locker room under his own strength. David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle are candidates to see increased snaps if Rankins can't return versus Chicago.

Rankins finished with five tackles (three solo), 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack in Monday night's 30-27 overtime win against the Chargers.

In just one game of play, Rankins eclipsed his season tackle total and recorded his first sack of 2020. He's had a slow start to the season but will look to stay on track in Week 7 against Carolina.

Rankins (thumb) is active for Monday's game versus the Chargers, Amie Just of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Rankins didn't practice Saturday due to this injury, but he'll be able to play through the issue, perhaps with some sort of protection on the thumb. The Louisville product is expected to start at nose tackle, where he has posted three tackles this year.

Rankins (thumb) is expected to play in Monday's game versus the Chargers, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.

Rankins popped up on the injury report Saturday when he was unable to practice, but it appears the 2016 first-round pick will play through the issue. He'll likely wear some sort of protection on the thumb, whether it's a cast or a club.

Rankins (thumb) didn't practice Saturday and is questionable for Monday's game versus the Chargers.

Rankins made his first appearance on the injury report Saturday, but it sounds like he could still play. If he in fact suits up, the 2016 first-round pick could work with a club on his hand to protect the injured thumb.

Rankins (ankle) has looked explosive at training camp according to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic reports.

Rankins is coming off two straight season-ending injuries but it does not appear to have slowed him down heading into the 2020 campaign. The 26-year-old is poised to reclaim his starting role along the defensive line.

Rankins (ankle) is expected to be healthy for the start of training camp, Nick Underhill of New Orleans.Football reports.

The 26-year-old was limited to begin the season after suffering a ruptured Achilles, and he eventually underwent preemptive surgery on the other leg to help prevent further issues with that Achilles. Rankins appeared in 10 games in 2019 and had 10 tackles and two sacks, and his return to full healthy for 2020 would be a significant boost for the defensive line.

The Saints placed Rankins (ankle) on injured reserve Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports.

Rankins' upcoming absence leaves the Saints quite thin along the defensive line, with Marcus Davenport also heading to IR due to a foot injury sustained during the 48-46 loss to the 49ers over the weekend. The defensive tackle will finish the 2019 campaign with just 10 stops and two sacks in 10 games, but he made more of an impact than the numbers would indicate. The Saints have since signed another defensive tackle T.Y. McGill in an attempt to add depth at the position.

Rankins (ankle) is in danger of missing the rest of the season, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Rankins was forced out of Sunday's 48-46 loss to the 49ers with a right ankle injury, and he's now weighing his options to figure out if he'll be able to play again in 2019. With defensive end Marcus Davenport expected to require season-ending foot surgery, the Saints suddenly appear thin along the defensive line, an area that's been a strength for them for most of the season. The only good news is that Rankins' injury isn't to the same leg in which he suffered a torn Achilles in January. The 2016 first-round pick has 16 sacks in 51 regular-season games, including two in 10 appearances during the current campaign.

Rankins (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the 49ers.

It's unclear how Rankins picked up the injury, but he was forced to exit the game late in the third quarter. As long as the 2016 first-round pick is sidelined, look for David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle to be in line to receive an uptick in snaps.

Rankins recorded three tackles (all solo), including a sack and a tackle for a loss, in the Saints' 26-18 win over the Falcons on Thursday.

Rankins recorded his first sack since Week 5, as he took Matt Ryan down in the division-clinching victory. The lack of sacks is concerning, but so is the fact that he hasn't recorded a tackle since Week 8. Rankins' performance this season is a far cry from his 40-tackle, eight-sack campaign from just a year ago.

Rankins finished with three tackles (three solo), one sack and one tackle for a loss in the Saints' 31-24 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Appearing in just his second game of the season after recovering from a torn Achilles, Rankins made a notable impact. It's likely his role grows with each passing week, making him worth a pickup where available.

Rankins (Achilles) is active for Sunday's contest against the Cowboys.

Rankins will be making his first appearance since tearing his left Achilles in the divisional-round of the 2018 playoffs. Considering he's a little more than eight months removed from the injury, it's unlikely that he'll play a full allotment of snaps.

Barring a setback in warmups, Rankins (Achilles) is expected to play in Sunday night's game against Dallas, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

A return in Week 5 of 6 seemed to be more likely heading into this game, but, as evidenced by this news, Rankins has made significant strides to make a return to the field earlier. As always, check the game inactives before kickoff to officially confirm the 2016 first-round pick's status, but his return would be a real boost to the Saints defensive front.