Source: Sheldon Rankins Season in Question

The hits keep on coming for the Saints defense, as Sheldon Rankins might not be in the mix for the rest of the season.

John Hendrix | Dec 10, 2019

According to a league source, the New Orleans Saints have some fears about defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins for the rest of the season. Rankins left the 49ers game on Sunday with an ankle injury. He exited the game in the second quarter, and was looked at on the sidelines. He never returned, staying mainly in one spot and down on one knee at times. Rankins never came back in the game, and wasn't spotted at all during the second half. We received word later that he was questionable to return.

A decision has not been officially made, as I'm told there's still some options being weighed on what will ultimately happen. Rankins has looked better and better since battling back from his Achilles injury from last season, and was recently named the team's winner for the Ed Block Courage Award for 2019. Malcom Brown and David Onyemata have been the primary tandem on the interior line for the Saints, with Rankins and Shy Tuttle rotating in.

It would be a tremendous loss for New Orleans, who also just lost Marcus Davenport on Tuesday.

Published Dec 10, 2019

JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net