NFL: Mark Ingram heads back to New Orleans Saints from Houston Texans

Houston Texans are trading veteran running back Mark Ingram to his original team New Orleans Saints, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. The Saints acquired cornerback Bradley Robyand from Texans in Week 1. The Saints drafted Ingram in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Ingram played eight seasons for the Saints, earning two of his three Pro Bowl selections (2014, 2017 and 2019). He played two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens following a three-year, $15 million free-agent contract in 2019. Ingram signed a one-year, $25 million contract with the Houston Texans on March 24, 2021, after being waived by the Ravens.

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Pelissero added that while compensation is still being negotiated, “the trade (is) expected to involve late-round future picks.”

Ingram has averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry with the Texans this season (92 carries, 294 yards), will be hoping to repeat his prolific performances for the Saints, where he’ll be reunited with Alvin Kamara, who shared his excitement over the news on Twitter. Nicknamed “Boom and Zoom,” Ingram and Kamara became the first duo ever to both surpass 1,500 scrimmage yards in the same season in 2017.

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Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks, however, didn’t seem too pleased with the deal. During his stint with the New Orleans, Ingram posted 6,007 rushing yards, 1,598 receiving yards and 55 touchdowns.

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The 4-2 Saints team is in second place in the NFC South, while the 1-6 Texans are at the bottom of the AFC South.

Ingram is just 89 rushing yards short of become the Saints’ all-time leading rusher, trailing Deuce McAllister, 6,096 to 6,007.

The Saints had been looking to reinforce their running back depth after releasing veteran Latavius Murray in September and losing backup Tony Jones Jr. to injury.