Mark Ingram, Saints Rookie Running Back, Not Injured in Crash

Former Heisman Trophy-winner Mark Ingram was not injured in a collision with a semi-truck in Huntsville, AL early Friday morning.

Neither Ingram’s girlfriend nor the truck driver, Paul Clewis, was injured.

Ingram, who was Alabama’s star running back during their 2009-10 national championship season, was signing autographs with former Alabama teammate Julio Jones at local restaurants. Ingram was selected as the 28th pick of the 2011 draft by the New Orleans Saints, but he has been unable to secure a contract due to the NFL lockout.

NFL owners voted on a new agreement Thursday 31-0 in favor of the new CBA. Players, however, will require more time to vote on the agreement due to conditions mandated by the owners and the amount of votes that must be attained by the NFLPA.

Ingram’s selection has caused wide speculation on Reggie Bush’s future in New Orleans. Bush was selected as the second pick in the 2006 draft, but he has been inconsistent of late and was marred by injuries last season.

Bush helped the Saints win their first Super Bowl title in 2010.

Bush won the Heisman Trophy in 2005, but he forfeited the award after the NCAA discovered violations from his past at the University of Southern California.

If Bush is traded, Ingram will join Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas in the backfield as a key piece to the New Orleans Saints’ high-powered offense. Chris Ivory led the team in rushing last year and Pierre Thomas, who had injury trouble last season, was re-signed in March under a four-year contract.