The New Orleans Saints have placed defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins on the physically unable to perform list, per Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.

This was expected, as Rankins tore his Achilles during the Saints' Divisional Round playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles back in January. He will also most likely miss part of the season as he continues rehab.

Rankins is coming off of a 2018 campaign in which he played all 16 games and racked up 40 tackles, eight sacks and a forced fumble, representing one of the Saints' best defensive players.

The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Louisville, was originally selected by New Orleans in the first round (12th pick overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.

He appeared in just nine contests during his rookie year as a result of a broken fibula he suffered in August of that year, but when he was on the field, he totaled 20 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble.

Rankins then proceeded to participate in all 16 games in 2017, totaling 26 tackles, a couple of sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

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The Saints won 13 games and captured the NFC South division title this past season, locking down the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They would then go on to make it all the way to the NFC Championship Game, where they suffered a heartbreaking and controversial loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

While New Orleans is still considered one of the favorites in the NFC going into this season, getting Rankins back at some point would obviously be pivotal.