Sheldon Rankins returns to Texans with ‘culture set,’ overcame medical ordeal with viral meningitis, shingles last year

HOUSTON – For Sheldon Rankins, being back with the Texans on a football field, shedding blocks and enjoying his health aren’t things he takes for granted.

Not after the extremely difficult medical ordeal the veteran defensive tackle endured last season while playing for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rankins, 31, was sidelined for the final seven games while dealing with two serious illnesses: a simultaneous bout with viral meningitis and a shingles outbreak. He lost nearly 50 pounds, down from his usual 305 pounds. It was a tough thing to deal with, spending time at home in the dark for nearly six weeks.

Rankins discussed what he dealt with for the first time after a training camp practice with the Texans where he looked like his old self, running around with a ton of energy and displaying his strength and moves at the line of scrimmage.

“So, I dealt with some health stuff last year, I won’t dive too deep into it,” Rankins said. “The biggest one that kind of took me out of playing, which was that I ended up having a shingles outbreak and viral meningitis at the same time. That knocked me out for a while. A lot of people don’t know and a lot of people thought:

"‘What type of illness or what type of thing could have someone out this long?’ A lot of people don’t know, I was literally laying horizontal in my house, in a dark house, for probably about a month and a half before I could really even sit up without feeling kind of crazy. So, I went through all that.”

For a defensive lineman to not have his power source, weight, bulk and strength and to be that light in the trenches, it’s nearly impossible to overcome.

That’s why Rankins is so grateful to be back with his old team after signing a one-year, $7 million contract this offseason to reunite with his former teammates.

“Throughout the process of that, I started the season last year probably around 300 pounds,” Rankins said. “By the end of dealing with all of that, along with some other things, I was probably down to 255. So, lost all my strength, lost all the weight, power. Even by the time I played my last game, November 7 against Baltimore, I was low 270s, high 260s.

“So, wasn’t myself last year and by the grace of God, I’m able to still come out here and compete and do things at a high level. So, I worked my ass off this whole season to ensure not only physically that I could come out here and play, but mentally I was past a lot of the stuff and health-wise, internally, that I was able to check things off my list and get back to feeling great. Because I know when I feel great, I can be a difference maker.”

Indeed. Rankins is regarded as an extremely effective defensive lineman who has the talent and skills as a former New Orleans Saints first-round draft pick from Louisville.

He also provides a wise presence in the locker room and on the field, mentoring younger players like standout defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

To be back with the Texans two seasons after recording a career-high six sacks playing for coach DeMeco Ryans on an AFC South division champion is significant for Rankins. He rejoins a team that won the division the past two seasons and has won one playoff game per year under Ryans’ leadership.

Rankins has the perspective of seeing where the organization has grown since Ryans’ debut season to being a more established football team after he turned around the franchise.

“The culture is set now,” Rankins said. “Obviously, when a new coach comes in he’s working overtime to find his identity imprinted within the framework of the team. Getting the team to function without him having to say every little thing over and over again.

“So, obviously coming back, same quarterback leading the team and then defense, a lot of continuity. His culture is set. So, I think it’s easy to get back in here and honestly feel my role like I did last time and then just get ready to play a ball.”

A former New Orleans Saints first-round draft pick from Louisville, Rankins played for the Texans two seasons ago under a one-year, $10.5 million contract.

The Texans negotiated with Rankins last year during free agency and made a substantial offer, but were ultimately outbid by a few million dollars by the Bengals as they reached a two-year, $26 million contract with the former Louisville standout.

Now, they’re back in business with Rankins.

For Rankins, being back with Anderson and watching the growth of a player who was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in their lone season playing together is a lot of fun.

“Oh, that’s great,” Ranksins said. “When I was here last time, I gladly took him under my wing and helped him with all facets of the game. Obviously, his talent speaks for itself, but helping him with a lot of the film study and the emotions of the game. Helping him understand, it’s a long season and how to prepare to go through your progress, your process and see progress through ways other than sack totals and different things like that.

“So, getting back here and seeing his maturation and picking right back up where we left off, whether it’s a look here, look there, a glance here, glance there. We’ve always kind of spoke the same language on the football field. So, getting back and playing next to him again, it’s like waking up in the morning. It’s like breathing. It’s something we’ve done really easily. So, looking for big things for us both this year.”

Rankins had 18 tackles and one sack in seven games played for Cincinnati. With the Texans, Rankins recorded a career-high six sacks in 15 starts as he finished with 37 tackles, eight for losses and 10 quarterback hits with one forced fumble. Rankins has played in the NFL for nine seasons, recording 246 career tackles, 30 1/2 sacks, 44 tackles for losses and 69 quarterback hits.

His presence, in many ways, is pivotal for the Texans.

“Sheldon is a very important piece because he provides a lot of leadership,” Ryans said. “He’s a veteran player who’s done it for a while and I really believe if you’ve got the right veteran player, they can really enhance the growth and really speed up the growth of some of our younger guys.

“So, I’m really excited to have him back, just his wealth of knowledge of playing the game for a while, being in a lot of different places and seeing it done a lot of different ways. For him to come back and add his insight to not only our defensive line room, but to our entire team is very invaluable. So, I’m excited to have him back.”

The Texans are the defending AFC South champions and are coming off another season where they lost in the AFC divisional round. The Texans are 0-6 in that stage of the postseason in franchise history and are the only team in the AFC that has never reached the AFC championship game.

Having a player with Rankins’ unique intangibles is another piece toward winning, and his contributions on and off the field are valued by Ryans.

“I appreciate that,” Rankins said. “I think I’ve always taken pride in doing things the right way. When I had a chance to talk to DeMeco prior to my first time coming here, I could just tell. I’ve known people that play for him, known people that knew him personally and then getting a chance to talk to him and talk ball with him, talk philosophy with him. I’m not a big rah-rah guy. I don’t do a whole bunch of talking.

“Honestly, most guys have probably never seen me do more than a head nod, But, just with pulling guys aside or we’re in between drills or just sitting at the lunch table or something, just being able to talk guys through what it’s like to be successful for a long time in this league and what it’s going to take for us to continue to grow and get to that next level. So, I take pride in being a voice of reason for DeMeco within the locker room and amongst these players.”

From last week: The Texans have interest in defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins

Having solved the health factor from last year is huge for Rankins. It’s not something he takes lightly. Not after last year. He’s looked good at camp so far.

“I feel great being back out here and running around in this heat, back to playing in a defense I love playing in, that fits me, fits my skillset,” Rankins said. “I feel like I’ve continued to ascend. I’ve always kind of been a guy that’s able to, have a high football IQ, be able to identify things on the fly, help guys get lined up amidst the chaos and call things on the fly.

“Whether I see something, and continuing to work on strength and flexibility to be able to continue to be stout against the run as well. So, I feel like I’m back to being the complete player I was and continue to ascend and continuing to be a better player.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.