Is Mark Ingram growing better with age or finally getting the chance to shine with Saints?

Saints running back Mark Ingram carries the football against the Washington Redskins during an NFL game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Nov. 19, 2017 in New Orleans.

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram has averaged a 74.7 rushing yards per game during the 2017 season, reaching a career-high rate in his seventh year in the NFL.

"He's healthy, and he's in great shape," New Orleans coach Sean Payton said of Ingram, who's four days away from his 28th birthday. "I thought in this past offseason, he had a really good spring. He's running hard, and I think he's doing a good job after contact, pad level. Some of the hidden yardage he is getting is impressive."

During his Friday press conference, Payton was asked if he'd ever seen a running back have his best season "this late in his career," and the New Orleans coach reminded reporters that Ingram was a 1,000-yard rusher last season.

"I don't feel like it's real late," Payton said. "He was drafted in 2011. He had a couple of injuries early on. That slowed his progress down early, but I think he played really well last year. His numbers last year were outstanding."

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New Orleans offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael said Ingram's seven seasons in the Saints' offense played a part in his strong season.

"I think the No. 1 thing for him is experience," Carmichael said. "He's always been a competitor, a tough guy who wants to go out and do his best. His familiarity with the system and his experience has helped him through the years."

Carmichael was asked if Ingram was playing better than in the past or just getting more opportunities. Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Chris Ivory, Khiry Robinson and Tim Hightower are on the roll call of running backs who have played significant snaps for New Orleans since Ingram joined the Saints as a first-round draft choice out of Alabama in 2011.

"That's a good question," Carmichael said. "I think he's playing very well this year. I think he's played very well in the past. But clearly this year he's having an outstanding year."

Ingram is averaging 14.8 rushing attempts per game this season. That's the second-highest of his career. In 2014, Ingram averaged 17.4 carries per game and went to the Pro Bowl.

Ingram hasn't had the running-back position to himself this season either. Four-time All-Pro Adrian Peterson played for the Saints until they traded him to the Arizona Cardinals four games into the season. Since then, Ingram has shared the RB duties with rookie Alvin Kamara.

They've turned into one of the most productive running-back duos in NFL history. Ingram has run for 971 yards and nine touchdowns on 192 carries and caught 46 passes for 298 yards. Kamara has run for 608 yards and seven touchdowns on 87 carries and caught 62 passes for 639 yards and four TDs.

Kamara missed last week's game because of a concussion, and the Saints lost to the Atlanta Falcons 20-17. Kamara was cleared on Thursday to play Sunday against the New York Jets.

Ingram ranks sixth in the NFL in rushing yards this season, averaging 1.2 more yards per carry than the league's rushing leader, Le'Veon Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

No New Orleans player has finished among the league's top 10 rushers since Deuce McAllister ranked fourth in the 2003 season.

Ingram needs 29 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the second time in his career. The only New Orleans players who have at least two 1,000-yard rushing seasons are McAllister, George Rogers and Ricky Williams.

"Mark is having a phenomenal year, and Mark is one of the heart-and-soul guys in this locker room," New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees said. "He's someone who everyone respects, someone who everyone roots for, wants to block for, wants to hand-off to, wants to be successful just because we see the way he works and see his approach. There's not a more liked guy, not a guy who works harder or is more positive. He creates great energy around the locker room and on game day. He's just a great guy to be around and a guy you want to win for."

The Jets and Saints kick off at noon CST Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

New York has a 5-8 record and is last in the AFC East. The Saints are 9-4 and tied with Carolina for the top spot in the NFC South, although New Orleans swept the season series with the Panthers.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.

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