On Monday, Mark Ingram said goodbye to the Baltimore Ravens. On Tuesday, the Ravens said goodbye to Ingram.
The NFL team waived the running back with one season left on a three-year, $15 million contract that he signed in 2019 after eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints.
“We are making the tough business decision to terminate Mark Ingram’s contract,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta stated. “Mark is a talented winner who brought passion, toughness, leadership and chemistry to the Ravens. He contributed in so many meaningful ways on and off the field, and we wish him the very best as he continues his career.”
In announcing the former Alabama All-American’s release, the Ravens posted a video on social media about his time in Baltimore, with an emphasis on the 2019 season, when Ingram’s infectious personality and Pro Bowl ball-carrying helped the team win 14 of its 16 regular-season games behind the mantra of “Big Truss.”
Ingram and the Ravens did not reach the same level of success in 2020.
Ingram had started Baltimore’s first six games of the 2020 season when an ankle injury sustained in a 30-28 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 18 sidelined him for two weeks.
After his return, Ingram ran for 7 yards on seven carries while playing 23 snaps in two games before being sidelined again – this time during the Ravens’ coronavirus outbreak. He spent Nov. 23 through Dec. 5 on reserve/COVID-19 and missed one game.
Ingram returned to the field as Baltimore’s starting running back and ran for 28 yards on six carries in a 34-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 8. He started the next week, too, but the first snap of the game was the only one that Ingram played in the Ravens’ 47-42 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 14.
After that, Ingram played in one of Baltimore’s five remaining games, running for 39 yards on nine carries in a 38-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 3 in the regular-season finale.
After running for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns on 202 carries and catching 26 passes for 247 yards and five TDs in 2019, Ingram had 299 yards and two touchdowns on 72 carries and six receptions for 50 yards in 2020.
On Monday night, Ingram posted a thank-you note to the Ravens, their fans and his teammates on his Instagram page and wrote: “I’m looking forward to my next opportunity because the best is still ahead.”
In 132 NFL regular-season games, Ingram has 7,324 yards and 62 touchdowns on 1,595 rushing attempts and 260 receptions for 1,895 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s played in seven postseason games with 299 yards and one TD on 71 rushing attempts and 10 receptions for 57 yards.
Ingram received Pro Bowl invitations in 2014, 2017 and 2019.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
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