Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Contributes to wild-card win
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Rankins had two tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown in Monday's 30-6 wild-card playoff round win over Pittsburgh.
Houston's defense played a significant role in the win, and Rankins was involved in the key play of the contest early in the fourth quarter. He and Will Anderson collapsed the pocket and sacked Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who fumbled. As the ball lay on the ground under several bodies, Rankins scooped it and ran 33 yards for a touchdown that gave the visitors a 17-6 lead. The way the Texans' defense played, the two-score lead was plenty. Rankins, who plays on the interior of the defensive line, was an unheralded part of the defense during the regular season but did contribute 35 tackles (15 solo) and 3.0 sacks over 17 contests.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Upgrades to full participation
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Rankins (elbow) was a full participant in Friday's practice.
Rankins was able to upgrade to a full participant Friday after being limited in Thursday's session. The defensive tackle is all set to suit up for Monday night's wild-card clash with the Steelers. Rankins was able to play through his elbow issue against the Colts in Week 18, logging two tackles on 27 offensive snaps in the victory. The 31-year-old will likely see similar utilization in Monday night's contest.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Limited in practice
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Rankins (elbow) was limited in practice Thursday.
Rankins' elbow issue also limited him in practice leading up to Week 18, but he was able to suit up for Houston's regular-season finale and avoid an injury designation entirely. Barring any setbacks, the starting defensive tackle will work to do the same in advance of Monday's wild-card matchup on the road against Pittsburgh.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Limited in Thursday's practice
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Rankins (elbow) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Rankins was held out of Wednesday's practice due to an elbow issue, but he was able to return Thursday in a limited capacity. He would likely avoid an injury designation for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Colts if he were to practice in full Friday. Rankins has accumulated 25 tackles (10 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one fumble recovery in the 11 games since the Texans' Week 6 bye.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Logs limited practice Thursday
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Rankins (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Rankin sat out practice Wednesday, but he's making progress with his knee issue. If the veteran defensive lineman can upgrade to full practice reps Friday, he'll have a solid chance to avoid an injury designation entirely for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Set to play Sunday
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Rankins (elbow/shoulder) was a full participant in practice Thursday.
Rankins did not practice to open the week Wednesday, but he was a full participant Thursday and is ready to go against the Cardinals in Week 15. The 31-year old has 28 tackles (13 solo), including 2.5 sacks, through 13 games this season. The veteran defensive tackle should handle his usual starting role alongside Mario Edwards on Sunday versus Arizona.
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Texans' Sheldon Rankins: Dealing with elbow injury
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Rankins (elbow/shoulder) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Rankins played an ample 43 defensive snaps in Week 14 at Kansas City, but it looks like he might have also hurt his arm in that contest. He'll likely need to return to practice Thursday or Friday to have any chance of playing Sunday versus the Cardinals.
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Sheldon Rankins: Let go by Cincinnati
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The Bengals released Rankins (illness) on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
An illness prevented Rankins from practicing or playing since Week 10, and he ended the season on the reserve/non-football illness list. He started in seven games for the Bengals last season and finished with 10 tackles (eight solo), including 1.0 sacks. It's unclear if his illness will linger into the offseason, but once fully healthy, Rankins will be on the lookout for a team in need of veteran depth on the defensive line.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Lands on NFI list
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The Bengals placed Rankins on the reserve/non-football illness list Monday.
Rankins has been unable to practice or play since Week 10 against Baltimore due to an illness. His placement on the NFI list means he won't be able to play in the Bengals' regular-season finale against the Steelers on Saturday. However, he would be eligible to return if the Bengals qualify for the postseason and make it to the Super Bowl. Rankins will end the 2024 regular season with 18 tackles (10 solo), including 1.0 sacks, across seven games.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Missing Week 15
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Rankins (illness) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Titans.
Rankins fell ill before the Bengals' Week 11 loss to the Chargers and is now in line to miss his fourth consecutive game Sunday with the issue. While the veteran defensive tackle remains sidelined in Week 15, expect McKinnley Jackson to see increased snaps with Cincinnati's first-team defense.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Won't play Monday vs. Dallas
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Rankins (illness) has been ruled out for Monday's game against teh Cowboys, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Rankins will miss his third straight game due to an illness, and given his extended absence, it's unclear whether he'll be able to suit up for the Bengals' Week 15 contest against the Titans on Sunday, Dec. 15. McKinnley Jackson, Kris Jenkins and Jay Tufele will continue to see increased snaps at defensive tackle next to starter B.J. Hill for as long as Rankins is sidelined.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: DNP on Thursday
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Rankins (illness) did not practice Thursday.
Rankins came down with an illness in the week leading up to Week 11 against the Chargers, and even with the Week 12 bye, he still didn't feel well enough to play against the Steelers this past Sunday. Rankins will have to return to practice over the next two days in order to be cleared to play against Dallas on Monday.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Won't play Week 13
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Rankins (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Rankins missed Cincinnati's Week 11 game against the Chargers due to the illness, and he's not well enough to suit up Sunday despite the Bengals being on bye last week. McKinnley Jackson, Kris Jenkins and Jay Tufele all could see increased defensive snaps with Rankins out Sunday. Rankins' next opportunity to suit up will be Monday, Dec. 9 versus Dallas.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Still under the weather
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Rankins (illness) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Rankins was a late addition to the Bengals' injury report heading into Week 11 against the Chargers due to an illness, which ultimately forced him to be inactive for the contest. Even after the Week 12 bye, it appears Rankins is still feeling under the weather, and it's unclear whether it will affect his practice participation over the next two days. If the illness is serious enough to force Rankins to be sidelined against the Steelers on Sunday, McKinnley Jackson and Kris Jenkins would see increased snaps at defensive tackle alongside starter B.J. Hill.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Ready for Sunday
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Rankins (hamstring) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Eagles.
Rankins upgraded to full participation in Friday's practice after logging limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday, so it appears he's moved past his hamstring injury. Expect the 30-year-old to start alongside B.J. Hill as part of the Bengals' top interior defensive line duo Sunday.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Out again for Week 4
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Rankins (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Rankins will miss his second consecutive contest, and fellow interior lineman B.J. Hill (hamstring) is doubtful to face Carolina after he also missed Week 3 versus Washington. Zachary Carter, Jay Tufele and rookie Kris Jenkins soaked up the majority of the snaps inside against the Commanders and will likely do the same this week.
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Bengals' Sheldon Rankins: Doesn't practice again
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Rankins (hamstring) did not participate in Friday's practice session, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
Rankins has been held out of the first two practices of the week due to a hamstring injury he sustained in Week 2 against Kansas City. He's unlikely to suit up Monday against the Commanders unless he's able to practice in at least a limited capacity Saturday. Zachary Carter and Jay Tufele would be thrust into the starting defensive tackle roles if both Rankins and B.J. Hill (hamstring) are unable to play Monday.
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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.
