While reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson got all the rushing glory last year for the Baltimore Ravens, Mark Ingram was a 1,000-yard rusher too. Here are Ingram’s odds at Mybookie to lead the NFL in rushing yards in the 2020 regular season as well as his odds to win Offensive Player of the Year.
Ingram II was the Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama in 2009 and the No. 28 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Saints. Mark Ingram Sr. and his son were both drafted in the first round, both at No. 28 overall. Ingram Sr. was selected by the New York Giants in 1987 as a 5-foot-10, 194-pound wide receiver out of Michigan State.
Ingram II was pretty good for the most part with New Orleans, although he was suspended the first four games of 2018 due to violating the policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Running at 4.5 yards per pop over his career, Ingram had 1,000-yard campaigns in 2016 and 2017 before finishing with 645 yards in 2018. He also was an effective pass catcher out of the backfield with 104 receptions from 2016-18.
Before last season, the Ravens signed Ingram to a three-year, $15 million free-agent contract. New Orleans and Ingram failed to settle on a new contract, leaving the Saints to sign former Vikings and Raiders back Latavius Murray — and Ingram to test the market. The Bears and Packers also looked into signing Ingram.
Ingram was spectacular in his debut as against the Dolphins in Week 1 of 2019 he rushed 14 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns as the Ravens won 59-10. He helped Baltimore set single-game team records in yards (643) and points scored (59).
On Sept. 22 at Kansas City, Ingram produced 3 rushing TDs for the second time (2017) in his career, and it was the fifth 3-TD rushing performance ever by a Raven. On the season, Ingram finished with 1,018 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns to go along with 26 receptions for 247 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. He didn’t play in a meaningless Week 17 game.
Ingram’s 15 total TDs in 2019 tied the franchise single-season record (Ray Rice, 15 in 2011) and ranked fourth in the NFL. Since 2014, his 4.77 yards-per-carry average ranks No. 1 among NFL RBs (min. 600 att.) and tied with the Titans’ Derrick Henry. Among active tailbacks, Ingram’s 49 rushing scores since 2014 are the league’s second most behind Todd Gurley’s 58. Also among active tailbacks, Ingram’s 60 rushing TDs career rank as the league’s fifth most.
Thanks in large part to Ingram and NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, the Ravens set an NFL team rushing record 3,296 yards, breaking a mark that had stood for 41 years. The 1978 New England Patriots rushed for 3,165 yards, during an era when running the football was much more prevalent.
“It’s like Joe DiMaggio’s record – that’s the record that would never be broken, and it just got broken by the 2019 Baltimore Ravens,” Coach John Harbaugh said. “It feels real good. The first team I think ever to average 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing in a season. That’s nothing to take lightly.”
Ingram rushed six times for only 22 yards in Baltimore’s shocking Divisional Round loss to the Titans in the playoffs while dealing with an injured calf. This could be Ingram’s final season with Baltimore considering the team used a 2020 second-round pick on Ohio State running back JK Dobbins.
Ingram has said that he is excited about the 2020 season but only if the safety of players, coaches, and personnel is guaranteed in the wake of the pandemic.
“I’m doing everything I can to make sure I’m preparing myself to have the best season I can,” Ingram said. “Even with everything going on, I’m just trying to stay healthy, trying to stay safe, trying to stay away from people, but most importantly not letting it hinder my work or my preparation for the season.”
The Ravens are 8.5-point home favorites for Week 1 vs. Cleveland.
