The New Orleans Saints didn’t suit up for a game on Sunday, but many of their former teammates did across the NFL. Of those players who have left the Saints for other teams, none seized their opportunity in Week 1 better than longtime Saints running back Mark Ingram, now with the Baltimore Ravens.
Ingram put on a show against the Miami Dolphins, turning 14 carries into 107 rushing yards and two touchdown runs to help the Ravens cruise to a 59-10 victory. All of the skills that Ingram put to good use in New Orleans were on display; his patience behind the line of scrimmage, quick cuts to change direction, and aggressive shoulder-strikes to overrun defenders in the open field.
The Saints lost Ingram in free agency earlier this year; working with a tight schedule, the Saints had to sign their second option at running back (Latavius Murray) rather than wait for Ingram’s agent to consider all offers from other teams. That decision ended his 8-year career with New Orleans and dashed his chances of earning the all-time Saints record for rushing yards.
Still, it’s great to see Ingram thriving with his new team. Former Saints wide receiver Willie Snead, also with the Ravens, caught one of the six touchdown passes thrown by second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson.
