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New Orleans Saints expect Mark Ingram at minicamp

By The Sports Xchange
New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) celebrates a two-point conversion against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter on December 24, 2016 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. File photo by AJ Sisco/UPI
New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) celebrates a two-point conversion against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter on December 24, 2016 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. File photo by AJ Sisco/UPI | License Photo

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram will be in attendance for the team's mandatory minicamp next month, coach Sean Payton told reporters on Thursday.

Ingram has failed to show for organized team activities this week as he enters the final season of his four-year, $16 million contract he signed in 2015.

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"He won't miss the mandatory minicamp," Payton said, which is scheduled for June 12-14. "He's indicated he'll be here for that."

The Saints would like to get Ingram some on-field work ahead of the start of the regular season, when he will serve a four-game suspension for violating the league policy for performance-enhancing substances. The former Heisman Trophy winner will be eligible to return to the Saints' active roster on Monday, Oct. 1.

Ingram was selected to his second Pro Bowl after rushing for career highs in yards (1,124) and touchdowns (12). He also caught 58 passes for 416 yards.

The 28-year-old Ingram has rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons and has registered 154 receptions over the past three seasons, including a career-high 58 in 2017.

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New Orleans has a capable replacement in electrifying Alvin Kamara, who was named the NFL Rookie of the Year last season.

Kamara rushed for 728 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and also amassed 81 receptions for five more scores in his rookie campaign.

New Orleans' ground game ranked fifth in the NFL with an average of 129.4 yards per game last season while leading the league with 23 rushing touchdowns and an average of 4.7 yards per carry.

Ingram has started 58 of 94 games since the Saints drafted him in the first round in 2011. He has rushed for 5,362 yards and 44 touchdowns while adding 207 catches and four more scores.

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