METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram has been placed on season-ending injured reserve, ending his season after 12 games.
Ingram was having tests earlier Wednesday to determine the severity of a shoulder injury, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder.
Ingram played the full game this past Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, so it's unclear if or when the injury was aggravated. But the 2014 Pro Bowler was limited with a shoulder injury in practice two weeks ago and appeared on the injury report as a full participant last week.
Ingram was not in attendance for the early portion of Wednesday's practice open to the media.
Saints coach Sean Payton addresses the media in the morning, so was not asked about the injury news. But quarterback Drew Brees discussed the possibility of losing Ingram after Wednesday's practice.
"I really feel like over the last two years, especially, he's really come into his own, where I would consider him one of the top backs in the league, all-purpose, can do everything," Brees said. "And a great guy to be around too. I don't know if there's a guy that's more well-liked in our locker room.
"So if he is to miss time, obviously he's going to be missed."
Ingram, 25, has been one of the few bright spots in a dismal season for the Saints (4-8). The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner and 2011 first-round draft pick already has reached a career high with 1,174 yards from scrimmage, which ranks sixth in the NFL (769 rushing, 405 receiving), to go with six touchdowns.
Last year, Ingram made his first Pro Bowl as an alternate after running for 964 yards and nine touchdowns.
Ingram has played almost every snap as the Saints' top rusher, top receiver out of the backfield and top pass protector. Backup Khiry Robinson already was placed on injured reserve with a broken leg earlier in the season.
Ingram's absence will mean more snaps for veteran backups C.J. Spiller and Tim Hightower. Spiller has surprisingly become a very small part of New Orleans' offense this season after signing a four-year, $16 million contract in free agency. The 28-year-old is averaging just 13.5 snaps and 5.5 touches per game, with a total of 108 rushing yards, 216 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He has only four touches over the past two games.
Hightower, meanwhile, has quietly been one of the feel-good stories of the season, returning to action for the first time since tearing his ACL with the Washington Redskins in 2011. His recovery was stalled by an undiagnosed infection. The 29-year-old finally cracked an active roster this year after Robinson's injury and has a total of 48 yards on 12 carries.
"You hate to lose guys like that, that mean so much to your offense. But it's kind of the next-man-up mentality," Brees said. "And Tim Hightower is a guy who's been looking for an opportunity now for a while, and he's gonna get that. And C.J. Spiller as well. And Marcus Murphy. We'll have a role for all these guys."
The Saints promoted fullback Austin Johnson from their practice squad to fill Ingram's roster spot and added running back Bronson Hill to the practice squad.