Saints' Fairley ready for bigger role with Rankins out

Nick Fairley knows the New Orleans Saints are relying on him to step up in 2016, and the defensive tackle is ready for the extra workload.

Fairley, who joined the Saints this offseason, will almost certainly be pressed into the starting lineup after first-rounder Sheldon Rankins broke his fibula.

"Now that he's down, they told me I was going to have to take on (more) of the load," Fairley said, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Pcayune. "So, I'm ready for it. I just got to get into better shape and keep going."

In last week's preseason game against the Houston Texans, the former first-round pick flashed the type of disruptive play that had him on the brink of stardom during his four season with the Detroit Lions. He finished the contest with four tackles, one for a loss, and one sack in just 19 snaps.

Despite his strong play, Fairley said on Tuesday that he's "far from" the player he wants to be.

"He looked like the old Nick," said defensive end Darryl Tapp, who played with Fairley on the 2014 Lions. "He's getting comfortable. ... He looked like the Nick I knew when I first met him in Detroit."