The New Orleans Saints had the biggest disparity in carries yet between tailbacks Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas on Sunday at Jacksonville, with Ingram carrying the ball 17 times for 55 yards and Thomas six times for 36 yards.

Ingram has almost twice as many carries as Thomas (53 to 27), but Payton insisted that the rookie is not being featured by design.

“I think some of it is just how it unfolded,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “There was a point in that second or third quarter where I said to Bret (Ingalls), ‘Let’s make sure I’m getting Pierre (Thomas) in there.’ There’s no exact science to the rotation. I do think the important thing is giving these guys the chance to get into a rhythm too. It’s something that’s a challenge, and there wasn’t anything specific. Take out the goal-line snaps and short yardage, and you’re really talking about four or five snaps there. A lot of it is just how the game unfolded and the personnel groups we were in.”

Ingram is getting almost all of the carries in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He has 10 carries when the Saints need one yard for a first down, and Thomas has none. Thomas is more often a passing target, with 11 receptions compared with four for Ingram.

That short-yardage role also factors into the runners’ average-per-carry, since Ingram is running against some heavier fronts. Thomas is averaging 5.0 yards per carry; Ingram is averaging 3.5.

It will be interesting to see how their roles evolve, especially if second-year tailback Chris Ivory returns to the mix by the end of the month. Ivory has been on the physically unable to perform list for the first six weeks of the season.

He is eligible to come off after six weeks, but the Saints don’t have to activate him for another three weeks.

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The New Orleans Saints had the biggest disparity in carries between tailbacks Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas last Sunday at Jacksonville, with Ingram carrying the ball 17 times for 55 yards and Thomas six times for 36 yards.

Ingram now has almost twice as many carries as Thomas this year (53 to 27). But Saints Coach Sean Payton insisted that the rookie is not being featured by design.

“I think some of it is just how it unfolded,” Payton said. “There was a point in that second or third quarter where I said to Bret (Ingalls), ‘Let’s make sure I’m getting Pierre (Thomas) in there.’ There’s no exact science to the rotation. I do think the important thing is giving these guys the chance to get into a rhythm too. But it’s something that’s a challenge and there wasn’t anything specific.

“Take out the goal-line snaps and short yardage and you’re really talking about four or five snaps there. A lot of it is just how the game unfolded and the personnel groups we were in.”

Indeed, Ingram is getting almost all of the carries in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He has 10 carries when the Saints need one yard for a first down, while Thomas has zero. Thomas, meanwhile, is more of a passing target, with 11 receptions this year compared to four catches for Ingram.

That short-yardage role also factors into the runners’ average-per-carry numbers, since Ingram is running against some heavier run fronts. Thomas is averaging 5.0 yards per carry, while Ingram is averaging 3.5.

It will be interesting to see how their roles evolve, especially if second-year tailback Chris Ivory returns to the mix by the end of the month.

OXNARD, CALIF. – New Orleans Saints guard Carl Nicks and tailback Mark Ingram both missed practice with knee injuries Tuesday, but both of them are expected back soon according to Coach Sean Payton.

Nicks apparently has a contusion, which he originally suffered in Saturday night’s game at Houston. After the knee continued to bother him Monday, the team took him in for tests, but they came out negative for anything more serious. Payton said he will likely be sidelined for a week and probably won’t play Sunday night at Oakland. But he should be back at practice next week.

Ingram was experiencing some swelling on Tuesday after he practiced fully on Monday, so the team sat him as a precaution. He will likely sit out on Tuesday, too, but should be back within a couple days.

Backup defensive end Junior Galette also left during Tuesday’s practice with an unspecified knee injury.

Also missing practice for the Saints Tuesday were linebackers Will Herring, Clint Ingram and Ezra Butler, defensive tackles Aubrayo Franklin and Tom Johnson, defensive ends Jeff Charleston and Greg Romeus, cornerbacks Johnny Patrick and Fabian Washington, tailbacks Chris Ivory and Chris Taylor, receiver Jarred Fayson and guard Roger Allen.

The New Orleans Saints’ most depleted position at the end of last year has become their most dynamic position.

Newcomers Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles have been two of the most impressive players throughout training camp.

The Saints traded up to draft Ingram with the 28th overall pick in April, and so far, it looks like they got a steal. The 5-foot-9, 215-pounder has flashed a combination of power, elusiveness and breakaway speed Ñ and more than anything, a knack for making his way through traffic. Although the Saints will use a time-share at tailback, Ingram looks capable of 1,000 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

Sproles replaces Reggie Bush as the “change of pace” back. He has displayed terrific speed, racing past ends and linebackers around the corner on sweeps and swing passes. He also runs with more power than expected from his 5-6, 190-pound frame. He’ll get plenty of touches on offensive, in addition to his duties as a return man.

Veteran Pierre Thomas has become the forgotten player, but he is also running with some authority again after having offseason ankle surgery. Thomas still is capable of being a go-to tailback when needed, with the ability to make big plays in the screen game as well. He’ll continue to be heavily involved in this offense.

Second-year pro Chris Ivory has been sidelined throughout camp, first recovering from foot surgery, then sports hernia surgery. It’s unclear if he’ll be healthy by the start of the regular season. But at some point, he will provide even more depth as the most punishing physical runner of the bunch.

Second-year pro Joique Bell has turned heads at camp. He looked like he had a strong chance at a roster spot before a knee injury in the preseason opener against the 49ers on Friday night slowed his progress. He’s hoping to be back before Week 1.

At fullback, veteran Korey Hall has the edge, especially since he’s a valuable special teams asset. The Saints also are high on what they’ve seen from former practice squad member Jed Collins, so that’s a competition worth watching.

FIRST DOWN

Tuesday’s practice was an intense, physical session, highlighted by a goal-line drill.

The victory went to the defense Ñ revenge from when Ingram scored in a goal-line drill last week.

This time, the Saints’ first-string offense nearly scored on a 3-yard pass from Drew Brees to tight end David Thomas, but Thomas bobbled the ball as he stepped out of bounds.

Ingram and Pierre Thomas then were stuffed on second and third down. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma got great penetration on the final run.

It wasn’t clear who made the official tackle, but outside linebacker Scott Shanle said from his vantage point, the trio of veteran tackles Shaun Rogers, Aubrayo Franklin and Sedrick Ellis were doing their job up front.

The second-string defense also shut down Thomas and Ingram. Finally, the third-string offense scored on a third-down pass from Sean Canfield to rookie tight end Michael Higgins.

“Aside from that, though, we didn’t let them run the ball in,” Vilma said. “We pride ourselves on that; we took great pride in that last year. I thought we did a great job last year, and it’s carrying over right now.”

TUESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

Cornerback Patrick Robinson made a great read on a pass by Brees later in practice, stepping in front of the ball in the flat and snagging it for an easy interception and a clear path to the end zone.

Brees had a much better day after that interception. He connected with receiver Lance Moore on the next play for a big gain. He later connected with tight end Jimmy Graham, receiver Marques Colston and Moore again for nice yardage. He also threw a great pass to Moore in the back of the end zone, though it wasn’t clear if Moore stayed in bounds. He finished with a touchdown pass underneath to Sproles.

Linebacker Jonathan Casillas chased down Graham and stripped the ball before Graham reached the goal line, a terrific effort play for Casillas and a mental error for Graham.

Franklin and Rogers lined up as the two tackles with the first-string defense for the first time later in practice, bumping Ellis to the second team. The three veterans likely will mix and match throughout the season based on situations.

Rookie linebacker Martez Wilson got chewed out by linebackers coach Joe Vitt during the goal-line drills for not knowing his assignments.

With the third-string offense, rookie receiver Joe Morgan made a great catch, then blew past the defense to the end zone.

INJURY REPORT

S Malcolm Jenkins: knee

RB Chris Ivory: foot

RB Joique Bell: knee

CB Leigh Torrence: hip

CB Johnny Patrick: knee

DE Jeff Charleston: ankle

DE Greg Romeus: knee

DT Tom Johnson: calf

LB Clint Ingram: hamstring

LB Ezra Butler: hamstring

LB Ramon Humber: hamstring

OT Alex Barron: knee

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., indoors, closed to the public.

Saints Coach Sean Payton released the following injury report following Monday’s practice:

“The following players still remain on the failed physical list: RB Chris Ivory and DE Greg Romeus.  The following players did not practice today: Ezra Butler, Ramon Humber, Clint Ingram, Joique Bell, Tom Johnson, Johnny Patrick, Jeff Charleston, Alex Barron, Leigh Torrence (hip), and Jo-Lonn Dunbar (quad).”

Torrence and Dunbar were additions to the list; the other players were also out Sunday following the Saints’ 24-3 victory over the 49ers in the preseason opener for both teams.

Saints Coach Sean Payton released the following injury report following Monday’s practice:

“The following players still remain on the failed physical list: RB Chris Ivory and DE Greg Romeus.  The following players did not practice today: Ezra Butler, Ramon Humber, Clint Ingram, Joique Bell, Tom Johnson, Johnny Patrick, Jeff Charleston, Alex Barron, Leigh Torrence (hip), and Jo-Lonn Dunbar (quad).”

Torrence and Dunbar were additions to the list; the other players were also out Sunday following the Saints’ 24-3 victory over the 49ers in the preseason opener for both teams.

Two Saints players – running back Chris Ivory and rookie defensive end Greg Romeus – remain on the failed physical list and are yet to practice in 2011.

Coach Sean Payton then released the following injury report following the team’s Sunday practice:

Not practicing due to injury were linebackers Ezra Butler (left hamstring and sports hernia), Clint Ingam (right hamstring) and Ramon Hunter (right quad); running back Joique Bell (left knee); defensive tackle Tom Johnson (left calf); cornerback Johnny Patrick (right knee); defensive end Jeff Charleston (ankle); and offensive tackle Alex Barron (left knee).

Wide receiver Adrian Arrington, who had missed four practices, returned Sunday.

New Orleans Saints running back Chris Ivory has undergone sports hernia surgery, Coach Sean Payton announced after practice Friday.

Ivory, a rookie free agent last season who became a key contributor during the 2010 season, had missed all of camp while still recovering from foot surgery.

Payton said Ivory had the surgery in Philadelphia and that it should be about a three-week recovery period. The Saints’ first regular season game is Sept. 8 at Green Bay.

On Thursday the Saints released reserve running back Lynell Hamilton. The top backs healthy right now are Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles.

New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter said he intends to be on the field when the Saints face off against the Green Bay Packers and their potent passing attack on Thursday, Sept. 8. But he expects to be sidelined for the first couple of weeks of training camp while his surgically repaired left knee recovers.

“That’s my expected timetable. I believe that’s the coaches’ expected timetable. That’s the goal,” said Porter, who had a “clean-up” procedure performed on the knee a few weeks after last season. “That’s the whole goal, to play Week 1. But in between time I’ve got to get some type of practice in.”

Porter didn’t get into specific details about the surgery but described it as a “routine clean-up” and said the recovery has gone as planned.

Last year, Porter missed four weeks in October with torn lateral meniscus in the knee. He didn’t immediately have the surgery after the season, but after a few weeks, “it wasn’t feeling right.”

“Now I’m feeling really good, and they just want to take it slow with me,” said Porter, who said it’s been tough to stand and watch the first two practices. “Competitive-wise, it’s always frustrating (to sit out). But everything happens for a reason. Eventually I’ll be out there.”

Six players sat out with injuries Saturday – Porter, tailback Chris Ivory (foot), offensive tackle Charles Brown (hamstring), defensive end Greg Romeus (knee), cornerback Josh Gatlin (thumb, knee) and guard Carl Johnson (hamstring). Punter Thomas Morstead returned to practice after missing Friday with a toe injury.

About 10 to 15 New Orleans Saints players have stopped by the team’s practice facility today for some voluntary workouts and some long-overdue quality time with the coaching staff.

The players will officially report to training camp Thursday. The first practice is expected to take place Friday, though that still has not been announced.

Among the players seen driving in and out of the Saints’ facility on Tuesday were safety Malcolm Jenkins, cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Johnny Patrick, kicker Garrett Hartley, quarterback Chase Daniel, tailbacks Chris Ivory and Lynell Hamilton, tight end Tyler Lorenzen and long snapper Justin Drescher.

“It was awesome,” Daniel said of being back in the building for the first time in nearly five months. “For us last night, we were just (champing) at the bit to get in this morning. It was like Christmas Eve last night. Just waiting to be back around people that you know, that you trust, that you love here.

“I came in, did a workout, threw some passes to Tyler, got in the cold tub, hot tub, just used the amenities. Got our free lunch, which was awesome. But it was good to see all the coaches. That’s the main thing. And to see everyone, all the support staff here, they all missed us like crazy. You know, we’re like their kids. That’s what Silky (Powell) said, one of the equipment managers. It’s good to be back.”