Let $k$ be a field, $p,q$ positive integers, and let $R$ be the space of $(p \times q)$-matrices over $k$, and $S$ be the space of $(q \times p)$-matrices over $k$. For every matrix $A \in R$, we define a so-called principal inner ideal

$$[A] := \{ ABA \mid B \in S \} \subseteq R.$$

Define the principal rank of $A$ as the length $n$ of a maximal chain of principal inner ideals

$$[0] \subsetneq [A_1] \subsetneq [A_2] \subsetneq \dots \subsetneq [A_{n-1}] \subsetneq [A].$$

Is it true that the principal rank of a matrix coincides with its usual rank?

Motivation: The pair $(R, S)$ is an example of a so-called Jordan pair, introduced by O. Loos, and the inner ideals play an important rôle in the theory of Jordan pairs. Loos seems to indicate that for matrix pairs, these two rank notions coincide, but he doesn't provide any details.