Saints Officially Designate Rookie DL Sheldon Rankins As Player To Return From I.R.

Update:

The New Orleans Saints officially designated rookie DL Sheldon Rankins as their player to return from injured reserve on Wednesday.

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Saints HC Sean Payton told reporters on Wednesday that they are planning to have rookie DL Sheldon Rankins begin practicing on Wednesday and designate him as their player to return from injured reserve, per Mike Triplett.

This means that Rankins could be eligible to return as early as Week 9.

Rankins wound up undergoing surgery for a broken fibula close a few months ago and was later placed on injured reserve.

Rankins, 22, was taken with the No. 12 overall pick by the Saints. He signed a four-year contract worth $12,801,646 to go along with a signing bonus of $7,510,288. The contract will include a fifth-year option for the team to consider in 2019.

During his four years at Louisville, Rankins recorded 133 tackles, 31.5 tackles for a loss, 18 sacks, two forced fumbles, two recoveries, two interceptions and four pass defenses.