Getty New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram celebrated after scoring a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mark Ingram and Michael Thomas haven’t been teammates with Dez Bryant for long. Still, the New Orleans Saints running back and wide receiver offered tribute to the team’s new and injured wideout on Sunday.
Ingram scored a touchdown on a 28-yard catch-and-run against the Cincinnati Bengals, then threw up Bryant’s famed “X” celebration.
Mark Ingram shows great effort on the touchdown and throws up the X for @DezBryant #NOvsCIN t.co/8ymXwUXwXo
Thomas did the same after his second touchdown catch of the game.
The defense even got in on the act after a Marcus Williams interception.
After sitting out the first nine weeks of the season, Bryant signed with the Saints on Wednesday. Two days later, the former Dallas Cowboys star tore his achilles tendon in practice, ending his season.
“Things was just starting to heat up for me…” Bryant tweeted after suffering the injury. “I won’t question the man upstairs… this is the ultimate test.. thank you everyone for the prayers.”
Ingram and Thomas both said Bryant’s “X” would still go up.
Best believe we throwing up the X still bro 🙅🏾♂️ #weallwegot
“He came in right away and he was just one of the guys, man,” Ingram said after Sunday’s game, per The Times-Picayune. “We was all excited about him being a part of our team. A great playmaker, a good dude and we all hated to see what happened on Friday. So, we just wanted to let him know he’s still part of us and we’re holding him down.”
Alvin Kamara also threw the “X” up, after scoring on a four-yard touchdown.
“We just wanted to show him some love,” Kamara said. “It’s unfortunate anytime anybody gets hurt. You don’t want to ever see that, especially a player of his caliber. He didn’t even get to do what he wanted to do with us.”
Long Road Back for Dez Bryant
“Dez will have a tough rehabilitation,” said a doctor who’s worked with NFL players attempting to return from a torn achilles, according to ESPN. “Achilles is tough, even if the torn surgery is tomorrow.”
ESPN added that “according to a recent study in Foot and Ankle International, 73 percent of players are able to return to the NFL after tearing an Achilles.”
Bryant played in all 16 of Dallas’ games in 2017, making 69 grabs for 838 yards and six touchdowns.
Saints Crush Bengals
Ingram rushed 13 times for 104 yards on the day, making three catches for 58 yards and a score in a 51-14 rout of Cincinnati. Quarterback Drew Brees completed 22 of his 25 passing attempts for 265 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. He surpassed Brett Favre for second on the all-time list for touchdown completions.
“You play long enough, these things happen,” Brees said after the win, according to the team’s official website. “I consider myself very blessed for the opportunity to play this game for as long as I have. I love this game, I love my teammates. Hopefully there’s more of that to come.”