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According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, the New Orleans Saints are expecting both defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and cornerback Delvin Breaux to play on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers in the late kickoff.
#Saints get back 2 key players who had suffered broken legs: Standout CB Delvin Breaux & first-round DL Sheldon Rankins will play vs. #49ers
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 6, 2016
The team has gotten by without both players in the lineup, who were lost to broken fibulas early in the year. Both Rankins and Breaux are extremely passionate players, and could help fuel Dennis Allen's defense in a big way for the back half of the season. The good news for the Saints is that their defense has been trending in the right direction, and Rankins will especially help the team's front four with pass-rushing and run-stopping.
Meanwhile, there's not much optimism for running back Carlos Hyde to play for the 49ers. The chips are certainly falling the Saints way, as they look to get back to .500 for the first time in over a year.