New Orleans Saints: Chris Ivory to Join Crowded Backfield

With the injury to Mark Ingram, the New Orleans Saints have activated Chris Ivory for Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams.

In 12 appearances last season, Ivory accumulated 716 rushing yards (tops on the Saints) and five touchdowns with a 5.2 average per carry, which ranked fourth in the league. Ivory started four games for the Saints and had a knack for the explosive play.

However, he broke his left foot in the last regular season game from 2010 and has been on the PUP list ever since. While Ivory may have rehabbed from the broken left foot and sports hernia surgery, he's got bigger issues now.

When the Saints drafted Mark Ingram, he joined an already crowded backfield. New New Orleans then went out and signed Darren Sproles. If you were a fan of the black and gold, the former Heisman winner and the 5’6” speedster were welcomed additions.

With that being said, if you were Chris Ivory—a player trying to get some more time on the field—those two joining the fold did not help your case.

This Sunday in St. Louis it will mark the first time that the former Tiffin University standout will see the field of play since the injury he sustained his foot injury. Even with Ingram out of the lineup, Ivory will have to fight for carries with Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles.

Both running backs have been productive this year, especially Sproles who leads the league in all-purpose yards with 1115, so Ivory will try to make an impact with the few carries that he gets. Even if he does not have a big day, it will be nice to see last year’s leading rusher in a Saints uniform again.