Jackson Free Press

For the first two weeks of the 2014 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints have had the worst possible start. The Saints fumbled away an overtime to hated rival the Atlanta Falcons in the season opener.

New Orleans couldn't defend a lead late on the road against the Cleveland Browns and lost to a late field goal. The loss this past Sunday dropped the Saints to 0-2 on the season and put them in a must-win situation against the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday.

The task against Minnesota got much harder with running back Mark Ingram suffering a fractured thumb that required surgery. Ingram had two screws placed in his left hand.

Because of the nature of the injury, Ingram can't play in a cast and is now listed as week to week. He injured the thumb either on a tackle by Browns cornerback Joe Haden, who hit Ingram's hand, or when he put his hand down to brace himself as he went to the ground.

The former Heisman Trophy-winning running back from Alabama didn't even come out of the game after the injury. He ran back to the huddle to run the next play, prompting fellow running back Pierre Thomas to call Ingram "a warrior."

Ingram came back from an injury late last season to be a workhorse for the Saints. He returned in November and had a breakout game in the New Orleans franchise's first road playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Against the Eagles, Ingram rushed for 97 yards on 18 carries and added a touchdown. In the offseason, the Saints declined to pick up his fifth-year option, which will make him a free agent at the end of the season.

That means Ingram is playing this season for a contract next season. The better numbers he puts up this season gives him leverage in negotiating with the Saints and other teams.

Ingram started off this season by rushing for 60 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries against the Falcons. He rushed for 83 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown against Cleveland and added another 21 yards receiving for 104 total yards.

After two games, Ingram is 11th in the league in rushing with 143 yards on 24 attempts for 71.5 average and leads the NFL with three rushing touchdowns. He also has rushed for eight first downs to keep drives going.

Now, Thomas, Khiry Robinson and Travaris Cadet will have to carry more of the load and make plays in the running game. There will also be more pressure on Drew Brees and the passing game to pick up more of the load.

New Orleans is currently fifth in rushing as a team in the NFL with 313 yards for a 5.7 average per carry. The Saints average 156.5 rushing yards per game and tie with Washington for most rushing touchdowns with four.

The Saints face a must-win game against the Vikings this Sunday at 12 p.m. on Fox. New Orleans' playoff hopes will be severely damaged if the team loses against Minnesota.