New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram has reportedly been placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and will miss the remainder of the season, according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport.
Ingram was the leading rusher for the Saints this season with 769 yards and six touchdowns. The Saints already lost running back Khiry Robinson for the season with a broken tibia. With both Robinson and Ingram out for the remainder of the season, running back C.J. Spiller will look to carry the load down the stretch.
Spiller has managed 108 yards rushing this season and is averaging 3.5 yards per carry. New Orleans is currently in last place in the NFC South, and losing a star player like Ingram is clearly a big blow for the team. Ingram was the Saints' first-round pick in 2011 and had really turned into a dominant back the past two seasons.
New Orleans signed fullback Austin Johnson to its active roster Wednesday, according to Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune. Johnson was on the Saints' practice squad after being waived Nov. 3.
The Saints' Super Bowl win in 2009 seems like the distant past at this point and, outside of quarterback Drew Brees and head coach Sean Payton, the team looks completely different.
Running backs Spiller and Tim Hightower will look to pick up the load in the final four games of this season. It will be interesting to see who will get the bulk of the carries this upcoming Sunday against NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
