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Saints 1st-round pick Rankins set to practice after starting season on IR

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

A struggling New Orleans Saints defense may soon receive a major upgrade up front.

First-round pick Sheldon Rankins is expected to make his return to practice Wednesday after a broken fibula suffered in the preseason forced him to start his rookie year on injured reserve, head coach Sean Payton announced.

Rankins will be eligible for game action for as early as the Saints' Week 9 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, and having three weeks of practice should help him get back into game shape by that time.

The Louisville product can be expected to challenge for a starting role fairly soon after being cleared to play, potentially upgrading the interior defensive front both against the run and when it comes to putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

New Orleans enters Week 7 action ranked 31st in yards allowed and 32nd in scoring defense.

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