The New Orleans Saints suffered a bitter defeat to fellow NFC contender San Francisco 49ers, adding a new level of intensity to the end of the regular season. To make matters worse, they lost defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to a serious ankle injury.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport was one of the first reporters to break the news to the public. His report may have ruined the mornings of many New Orleans fans.
DT Sheldon Rankins, who left Sunday early, has an ankle injury deemed significant, sources say. At this point, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be able to return this season. Combined with Marcus Davenport’s Lisfranc injury, rough few days.
The fact that he may not be able to return to the team in time for the playoffs is a hit for their defense. He may have not started the ten games he's played for the Saints this season, but he's played well whenever his number is called. He's a constant part of the defensive schemes of the Saints, notching 10 tackles in the process.
Replacing him in the roster is a tough business, especially now that the regular season is almost at its end. The best defensive tackles in free agency are already off the market, and the time they have left may not be enough to find the perfect man for the job.
However, they're already in the process of finding replacements for their defensive holes. According to Saints Wire's John Sigler, the team has worked out with a couple of pass rushers to fill the void. They hope they find the right man to take Rankins' spot in the roster.
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