Mark Ingram Injury: Heisman Winner Out for Alabama Season Opener

From RollTide.com and ESPN.com, it is being reported that Heisman winner Mark Ingram will miss Saturday's season opener against San Jose State.

According to reports, Ingram suffered a left knee injury during Monday's practice, followed by arthroscopic surgery earlier this morning.

Coach Nick Saban said the injury would be evaluated on a daily basis and that it was a situation that was better to be taken care of now than to deal with the possibility of re-aggravating it later in the year.

With Ingram on the sideline, backup running back Trent Richardson will have all eyes on him, along with Eddie Lacy, who is perhaps Alabama's best-kept secret from most of the nation.

Obviously no one wanted to see this happen, but it is better to have these things taken care of before the season gets under way.

Knowing Ingram's intensity and his determination to excel, he will be dressed and ready to make heads roll on September 11 against Penn State.

In the meantime, Richardson, Lacy, and third-string tailback Demetrius Goode will carry the load.

So, for all those ready to count Bama's running game out, beware. This may be just the thing needed to bring reality back to the minds of the players following an offseason that many considered too distracting.

This is also a good time to jump-start Richardson toward what should be a great season for him, and Lacy will get playing time much sooner than expected against San Jose as well.

In the blink of an eye, anyone on either side could be lost. Just ask Dont'a Hightower, or better yet, just ask Tyrone Prothro.

Hopefully, Mark will be back to full speed by this time next week, and hopefully the focus will be redirected toward the primary goal: "Win every day; win every play."