Sheldon Rankins reportedly set to return to Saints
The New Orleans Saints drafted Sheldon Rankins 12th-overall in this year’s draft in hopes of having him fix a woeful defense. In August, Rankins fractured his fibula and has yet to suit up for the team this season.
But according to ESPN’s Mike Triplett, there’s a lot for the team to smile about. Rankins is expected to practice today, though he won’t be formally eligible to play until the team visits the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9.
As Triplett pointed out, Rankins’ return is a huge boost to a team that’s second last in yards allowed per game (419.4,) and last in scoring (allowing 33.6 per game.) Rankins will form a solid pass-rushing duo with Cameron Jordan if all goes according to plan, as Nick Fairley and James Laurinaitis haven’t worked out as hoped.
The Saints have won their last two games, though they were high-scoring affairs at that. There’s no way you can have Drew Brees score 30 points a game and hope to make the playoffs when the defense is giving up more than that, so Rankins’ return could not come at a better time.
New Orleans is starting to gain a bit of momentum with two-straight wins in which the offense came through in the clutch during the final minutes. With the Atlanta Falcons losing on Sunday, the Saints are 2.5 games out of first in the NFC South.
If the Saints can win in Kansas City and San Diego can upset Atlanta, the Saints will be just half a game out of first in the division, meaning there’s a long way to go.
But for now, the focus is on Rankins coming back. Hopefully, that’ll provide them a huge boost.
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