Saints bring back defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker to replace injured Sheldon Rankins

With the loss of starting defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to a season-ending injury against the Eagles, the Saints have added depth at the position with a familiar face to both New Orleans and their NFC Championship game opponent.

The Saints have signed New Iberia native Tyrunn Walker, a former New Orleans defensive tackle who later played for the Los Angeles Rams, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Tuesday.

The Westgate high product made the Saints’ roster as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and stayed with the team for three seasons. After two years with the Detroit Lions, Walker joined the Rams for the 2017 season. This year, Walker has been a free agent since his release at the end of the preseason by the Buffalo Bills.

Walker, 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, has 85 career tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Rankins was placed on injured reserve with a torn Achilles suffered in the first quarter of the NFC Divisional playoff win over Philadelphia.

The Saints host the Rams at 2:05 p.m. Sunday.