New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton revealed Wednesday morning that the team is hoping to have injured running back Mark Ingram back in action in time for the week 7 matchup with Detroit.
The Saints, currently on their bye week, travel to Ford Field to face the Lions a week from Sunday, and are hoping to have Ingram available. The former Heisman trophy winner and 2011 first-round pick sustained a broken hand in the week 2 loss at Cleveland. Khiry Robinson has performed admirably in Ingram's stead, but adding the former Alabama standout back into the mix will help to further boost the team's ground attack in time for their meeting with the Lions, who boast a stout interior defensive front featuring the likes of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. The Saints are hoping to have Mark Ingram back in time for week 7.
Payton said that Ingram is still sporting a cast after picking up the injury against the Browns, but the team is hoping that he will be able to shed that apparatus for a lighter, padded 'soft' cast which would allow him to play as soon as week 7. The coach was making an appearance on CBS Sports Radio program "TBD In The Morning" earlier on Wednesday.
“With the fracture that he had, which is right where the thumb and the hand kind of go together, you gradually just reduce what he’s having to wear. And he’s probably, I would say three or four weeks away from not having to wear anything,” Payton said. “But right now, there’s a chance he plays in the next game.”
Ingram, 24, had been running at arguably his best as a pro before going down in week 2. Through the Saints' first two games, he had accumulated 143 yards on 24 carries, good enough for a 6.0 average. Additionally, he scored 3 touchdowns, and appeared to be the team's go-to goal line back.
The Saints have the rest of this week off, and will return to work on Monday to begin preparations for the week 7 game at Detroit. Time will tell if Mark Ingram is involved, but all signs are pointing to the 5-9 215 runner having a chance to play against the Lions.