The New Orleans Saints have officially activated RB Mark Ingram from the exempt list and released RB Mike Gillislee on Saturday, according to Nick Underhill.
Ingram, 28, is a former first-round pick of the Saints back in 2011. He played out his rookie contract before returning to the Saints on a four-year, $16 million contract that included $7.6 million guaranteed a few years ago.
Ingram stands to make a base salary of $4 million in the final year of the agreement. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
In 2017, Ingram appeared in all 16 games and rushed for 1,124 yards on 230 carries (4.9 YPC) to go along with 58 receptions for 416 yards receiving and 12 total touchdowns. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 22 running back out of 60 qualifying players.
Gillislee, 27, was a fifth-round pick of the Dolphins in the 2013 NFL Draft. He spent just over two years in Miami before he was among their roster cuts at the start of the 2015 regular season.
After a brief stint with the Cardinals, the Bills signed him to their practice squad during the 2015 season and brought him back on a one-year deal. However, Buffalo lost Gillislee last offseason when they declined to match the Patriots’ two-year, $6.4 million restricted offer sheet.
Gillislee was set to make a base salary of $1.9 million for the 2018 season when the Patriots released him as they trimmed their roster down to 53 players. The Saints later signed him to their active roster.
In 2017, Gillislee appeared in nine games for the Patriots and rushed for 383 yards on 104 carries (3.7 YPC) to go along with one reception for 15 yards and five total touchdowns.
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