Rankins and the Bengals agreed on a two-year, $26 million contract Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Rankins will officially head to Cincinnati after spending the 2023 campaign in Houston, recording 37 tackles, including 6.0 sacks, while also forcing a fumble and scoring a defensive touchdown over 15 games. The defensive tackle will create a formidable duo on the interior defensive line with B.J. Hill in 2024.
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Sheldon Rankins: Likely headed to Cincinnati
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The Bengals are expected to sign Rankins on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Though not official yet, a deal between Rankins and Cincinnati seems to be close to done. He would immediately figure to play a significant role on the interior of a Bengals defensive line that's already loaded with talent.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Returns to practice Wednesday
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Rankins (shoulder) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.
Rankins sat out practice Tuesday due to a shoulder injury, but he was able to log a limited session one day later. Given the stakes of Saturday's wild-card contest versus Cleveland, the defensive tackle seems likely to suit up, though his participation level in practice Thursday could provide more clarity on the seriousness of the shoulder issue. Rankins registered 6.0 sacks this season in his first campaign in Houston.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Set to play Saturday
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Rankins (ankle) is active for Saturday's game against the Colts, Drew Dougherty of the Texans' official site reports.
Rankins was a limited participant in Thursday's practice and will be good to go for the Texans' regular-season finale. He has 36 tackles (28 solo), including 6.0 sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown over 14 games this season.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Questionable for Saturday
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Rankins (ankle) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Colts.
The defensive tackle missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday before participating on a limited basis in Thursday's session. Rankins sat out two games earlier in the season with a knee injury but has been healthy for the last eight. If he's unable to suit up Saturday, Kurt Hinish should see more snaps.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Scores in win
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Rankins had two tackles, including one sack, and a 13-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in Sunday's 26-3 win over Tennessee.
Houston's defense had a statement game, and Rankins was in the middle of it. Defensive end Jerry Hughes dislodged the ball from quarterback Will Levis, and Rankins had an unencumbered path to the end zone for the Texans' first touchdown scored by the defense in 2023. The interior lineman has 36 tackles, including six sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery over 14 games.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Available Sunday
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Rankins (ankle) is active ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans, Drew Dougherty of the Texans' official site reports.
The 29-year-old defensive tackle was able to log a limited session Friday after beginning the Texans' week of practice with back-to-back DNPs, and it now seems as if he'll be able to play through his ankle issue in Week 17. Rankins has appeared in 13 games for Houston this year, recording 34 total tackles, including seven tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Questionable for Week 17
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Rankins (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game versus Tennessee.
Rankins logged a limited practice Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday. The 29-year-old veteran has played in 13 of 15 games to this point, managing 34 tackles (26 solo), including 5.0 sacks among his seven tackles for loss as an interior lineman.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Ready to go Sunday
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Rankins (elbow) is active Sunday against the Broncos.
Rankins returned to practice in a limited fashion Friday after logging DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday. His ability to take the field Sunday should be a boost for the Texans' defensive front.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Questionable for Sunday vs. Broncos
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Rankins (elbow) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Broncos.
Rankins was able to manage limited participation at practice Friday after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday, giving himself a shot to play in Week 13. If he sits out though, Kurt Hinish would probably start in his place on the defensive line.
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Jets' Sheldon Rankins: Dislocates elbow Sunday
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Rankins sustained a dislocated elbow during Sunday's win over the Bills, and he could now miss 4-6 weeks depending on the healing process, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Rankins departed during the first half of Sunday's matchup versus Buffalo with what has since been revealed as a dislocated elbow. While there's currently no specific date set for his return, an injury like this usually takes players up to six weeks to fully recover from. While the 305-pounder remains sidelined, expect Solomon Thomas, Quinnen Williams and Nathan Shepherd to see a spike in usage on the Jets' defensive front.
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Jets' Sheldon Rankins: Will play Sunday
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Rankins (knee) is active for Sunday against the Dolphins, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.
Rankins was able to log a full practice Friday, setting the stage for his ability to suit up Sunday. The six-year veteran has 25 tackles (11 solo), two sacks, a pass defensed and fumble recovery on the season. He and the Jets will look to stifle the Dolphins' playoff chances Sunday.
Rankins racked up 20 tackles (13 solo), 1.5 sacks and a pass defended across 12 regular-season games in 2020.
Rankins missed at least four games for the second straight season, and though he saw his defensive snaps climb in 2020, he recorded a career-low 1.5 sacks. He's played all five seasons of his career with New Orleans, but it's unclear where he'll play in 2021, as Rankins is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
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Saints' Sheldon Rankins: Moves off IR
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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.
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Saints' Sheldon Rankins: First sack of 2020
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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.
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Saints' Sheldon Rankins: On track for MNF
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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.
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Saints' Sheldon Rankins: Could be out for the season
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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.
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Saints' Sheldon Rankins: Leaves game Sunday
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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.
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Saints' Sheldon Rankins: Records sack in win
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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.
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Saints' Sheldon Rankins: Expected to make 2019 debut
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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.
