A big time trade took place Wednesday evening when the Houston Texans traded veteran RB Mark Ingram II back to the New Orleans Saints. The deal includes a swap of late-round picks with more information on the trade set to come out later Thursday.
Ingram, who is arriving to New Orleans Thursday, will not participate in practice, but will on Friday. Despite only one day of practice, Sean Payton assured the media Thursday that there is a good chance we see Ingram in action Sunday against the Buccaneers.
“Absolutely," Payton said. "That’s a good chance, absolutely. That’s like a high chance."
Payton was then asked if he had foreseen bringing Ingram back to NOLA and saying he didn't initially, but due to injures at the running back position, they figured they would bring in a guy who was already familiar with the offense.
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“Not initially at all really, when the season began. After Latavius [Murray] left, and Tony [Jones Jr.] was getting the work at the [No.] 2 position. When he got injured, it kinda created a void,” Payton said in a press conference held Thursday morning. “We brought in Ziggy [Devine Ozigbo], and we’re really familiar with him and he’s done a great job. But a player like that, it’s hard to gauge if a team has any interest. Mickey and I talked about it in Seattle, and we felt it was worth calling them and just kinda poking around.”
Ingram never reached out to the organization, but his friend Alvin Kamara apparently played a huge role in convincing the organization to bring Ingram back in.
“Well he can’t really, and he didn’t. But his little partner in crime did. … So Alvin [Kamara] said something to me, I forget where, and I was like, ‘man, listen buddy, you’re on, like C, and I’m on like, M,’ I said, ‘so catch up, we’re already down that road.’" Payton said. “Alvin and he obviously are really close.
Once that momentum began I was still somewhat skeptical just relative to the role he was playing for them. And, man, yesterday kinda went back and forth and fortunately we were able to work something out.”
Payton then spoke on what Ingram can bring to this team.
"Listen, there’s a leadership element, a toughness element, there’s a respect element. We feel like he does a lot of things well. He knows this system, and I think he’ll be an important addition for us.”
Ingram was drafted by the Saints as the 28th pick of the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft having some of his best years with the franchise--making two Pro Bowls during his first stint with the team. Kamara hasn’t had a backfield partner quite like Ingram since Tony Jones Jr. who went down with an injury earlier this month.
He left the Texans as the leading rusher on the team having rushed for close to 300 yards and one touchdown this season.
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