Saints: Trade for Mark Ingram will fulfill RB2 duties

The New Orleans Saints are closing in on a trade for Houston Texans’ Mark Ingram to add a much-needed RB2 to their backfield.

Ingram is finally coming home to NOLA.

Following Tony Jones Jr.s’ injury in the New York Giants game, the Saints have been working out a few running backs to take his place, including Lamar Miller, Duke Johnson, Brian Hill, Ito Smith, and Ryquell Armstead.

New Orleans have since signed Armstead to the practice squad and placed Jones on injured reserve.

With recent reports of a Mark Ingram trade, however, the Saints have found a more stable RB2 option in the backfield.

New Orleans Saints are acquiring RB Mark Ingram from Houston in 2021

Ingram already knows a thing or two about the Saints’ offensive scheme having played in NOLA for eight years of his 11-year career. New Orleans picked him in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft and never looked back, and Ingram rewarded the Saints with eight productive seasons.

In those eight seasons, Ingram racked up 6,007 rushing yards and 63 rushing touchdowns as well as 1,598 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.

In 2021, Ingram was touted as the lead running back in Houston’s crowded RB room but was averaging just 3.2 yards per carry. Fantasy managers who have rostered Ingram won’t be happy with the trade since Ingram moves from RB1 to, at best, RB2 status.

Saints fans, though, will be overjoyed to see a familiar face and old friend.

During his Saints’ career, Ingram was just 89 yards shy of overtaking Deuce McAllister for No. 1 spot on the New Orleans’ all-time rushing list. Now that he’s back in NOLA, he’ll get a chance to finally reach or surpass McAllister’s numbers — and be loved by Saints fans even more.

Ingram will be firmly slated to start behind Kamara, at least for as long as Jones is out. There’s a chance he could take on RB2 duties full-time if he plays well, and that’s the exact kind of morale boost the Saints could use right now.

In the last two years, Ingram has posted roughly 300 rushing yards in each season. In 2021, he’ll likely be a shell of the Pro Bowl running back he once was.

Still, this is a smart, low-risk move that could add an electric jolt to the Saints’ recent groggy form.

When Ingram left NOLA, many were left disheartened that the uber-reliable and excitingly dangerous duo of Ingram and Kamara was breaking up.

Now, Ingram can link back up with his No. 1 running partner-in-crime and pick up where he left off three years ago. He captured the hearts of Saints fans once before, and he can do so again this season.