METAIRIE, La. -- Mark Ingram was one of a handful of New Orleans Saints players held out of Thursday's OTA practice, watching some of the action from the sideline. But coach Sean Payton said it was a day of rest for a minor foot/ankle issue.
"We just backed off of him today. But he's been full speed up until this afternoon. He's doing well," Payton said of Ingram, who emerged last year as the Saints' workhorse running back before signing a four-year, $16 million deal this offseason. "He's just got a foot or an ankle. There's no injury specific."
Payton declined to break down all of the Saints' injury issues since he said that's not required at this time of the offseason. But here are some other injury- and attendance-related observations:
New center Max Unger, who was acquired in the Jimmy Graham trade with the Seattle Seahawks, was excused due to the birth of a child. Rookie offensive tackle Andrus Peat can't participate for about two more weeks because his school, Stanford, has not completed its academic year. And rookie quarterback Garrett Grayson was excused to attend the mandatory Rookie premiere seminar sponsored by the NFL Players Association. ... Backup center Mike Brewster replaced Unger with the starting unit.
New linebacker Dannell Ellerbe worked with the first-string defense during a walk-through session at the start of practice before calling it a day. It's unclear if he's still rehabbing from the hip injury that sidelined him for 15 games last year with the Miami Dolphins, or if he's dealing with a new ailment. ... Ramon Humber replaced Ellerbe with the starting unit.
Nose tackle Brodrick Bunkley, who suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury last November, and defensive end Glenn Foster, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last October, were held out of practice. Both watched from the sideline at one point. ... Tackles John Jenkins and Lawrence Virgil worked with the starting defense in a four-man front while Bunkley was out.
Rookie outside linebacker Davis Tull (shoulder) and undrafted rookie defensive lineman Bobby Richardson (undisclosed) worked off to the side with trainers during practice.
Safety Jamarca Sanford, cornerback Damian Swann and linebacker Jerry Franklin did not participate for undisclosed reasons.
Some good news on the injury front: Safeties Jairus Byrd, Rafael Bush and Vinnie Sunseri, defensive linemen Akiem Hicks and John Jenkins, receiver Brandin Cooks, offensive tackle Terron Armstead and fullback Austin Johnson all fully participated after being sidelined by various injuries to end their 2014 seasons prematurely. Bush, who fractured his fibula last year, said he's still playing it cautious based on how far he feels he can push it each day.