Report: Sheldon Rankins may start 2019 on PUP list

Reports are beginning to trickle in from the New Orleans Saints as the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine continues in Indianapolis. One update came to light concerning defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who was one of the team’s breakout stars in 2018 before going down with an injury in the playoffs. Per Nick Underhill of the Advocate, Rankins could be facing a more protracted recovery than Saints fans have seen before from comparable situations:

While Sheldon Rankins is recovering well from a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season prematurely, he is not expected to return as quickly as Alex Okafor did from a similar injury last season, according to a source.

Rankins’ injury is lower in his leg, which means it will take him longer to recover than someone who suffers a higher tear, such as Okafor. The defensive tackle suffered his injury during the playoffs, and it could take him as long as 10 months to recover. It is possible, and possibly likely, that Rankins will start the season on the physically unable to perform list.

This would be a troubling development if it holds true, but it’s not completely unexpected. The initial diagnosis put Rankins on the path of a six- to ten-month recovery following surgery in January, so the best possible scenario would have been a late entrance in training camp. The worst possible case (and apparently what we should anticipate) is a delayed debut in October, similar to left tackle Terron Armstead in 2017. If Rankins is going to start the 2019 campaign on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, it just emphasizes how badly the Saints need to invest in another disruptive defensive tackle this offseason.