Rookie defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins was carted off the field Monday morning at New Orleans Saints training camp practice.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network has reported that the initial tests on Rankins leg injury revealed a broken fibula, and Rapoport also added that the rookie defensive lineman will undergo further tests to see whether or not there was any additional damage to the leg.
#Saints 1st rd DL Sheldon Rankins believed to have suffered a broken fibula based on initial tests, source said. Candidate for IR/to return
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 15, 2016
Also, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Rankins will undergo surgery, and will “likely” be out for six to eight weeks.
Saints first-round pick Sheldon Rankins will have surgery on his fractured fibula and likely be sidelined about six weeks, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 15, 2016
New Orleans Saints Sheldon Rankins Breaks Fibula
The Saints drafted Rankins with the 12th overall pick in this years NFL Draft. The former University of Louisville product was expected to be a vital part in the Saints defense this season. The Saints are coming off a historically bad 2015 season. Their defense set an NFL record for the most passing touchdowns ever allowed in a single season with 45. Their defense also ranked 31st in the league last season in passing and rushing yards allowed per game.
Rankins going down with a broken fibula is the second injury the Saints defense has suffered. Their second year pass-rusher, Hau’ oli Kikaha, was lost with a knee injury earlier this summer. There was some good news for the Saints on Monday, however, when ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that linebacker, Stephone Anthony, who suffered a leg injury last week, will only miss a couple weeks. Anthony is expected to be ready for the beginning of the regular season.
Through most of training camp, the 6-foot-2, 305-pound Rankins had been working mostly with the first-string defense. Now with the injury that Rankins has suffered on Monday, veteran defensive lineman Nick Fairley who the Saints signed in the off-season, will see a significant increase in his playing time heading into the upcoming season.
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