A Comeback After A Difficult Year
Veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is back with the Houston Texans for the 2025 season following a serious health scare that sidelined him during his time with the Cincinnati Bengals. Rankins opened up Monday about the physical and mental toll of the illness that forced him to miss the final seven games of last season.
“I wasn’t myself last year,” Rankins said, via the Houston Chronicle. “I ended up having a shingles outbreak and viral meningitis at the same time. That kind of knocked me out for a while. A lot of people don’t know I was laying horizontal in a dark house for probably about a month and a half before I could really even sit up. It was really kind of crazy.”
A Dramatic Drop In Weight And Strength
Shingles, a viral infection that causes a painful rash, combined with viral meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord lining, left Rankins battling severe symptoms for weeks. The experience led to a dramatic drop in weight and strength.
“I was probably down to 255 [pounds]. Lost all my strength, lost all the weight, [my power],” Rankins said of his condition. The Bengals had originally listed his absence as due to illness. Following the 2024 season, they released the 31-year-old defensive lineman.
Rejoining A Familiar System In Houston
Rankins now returns to Houston, where he enjoyed one of his most productive seasons in 2023. That year, he recorded six sacks, 37 tackles, and scored the first touchdown of his career on a fumble recovery. Back in DeMeco Ryans’ defensive system, Rankins is expected to contribute as a reliable rotational presence on the interior line.
“I worked my ass off to ensure not only physically that I can come out here and play, but mentally I was past a lot of the stuff. Health-wise, I was internally able to kind of check things off my list and feeling great. I know when I feel good I can be a difference maker.”
Now fully recovered and motivated, Rankins is looking to make an impact once again—this time, back in the city where his resurgence began.
