Since suffering a broken fibula in the 2016 preseason, defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins has watched his rookie season from the sidelines. NFL rules for players on injured reserve on which Rankins was placed following his injury only allow one player on IR to return. That player has to be out for six weeks and then practice for two weeks, prior to being eligible to return to action.
Late Saturday afternoon the Saints made the announcement that Rankins was indeed added to the active roster and will likely see his first NFL regular season playing time against the San Francisco 49ers.