Alvin Kamara talks Saints signing Travis Etienne Jr., hopes for 2026

Yahoo Sports2h ago15 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Alvin Kamara discusses the New Orleans Saints' signing of Travis Etienne Jr. for a four-year, $48 million deal, emphasizing the importance of sharing the backfield. He reflects on his successful partnership with Mark Ingram and the need to adapt for the future.

Key points

Alvin Kamara discusses the signing of Travis Etienne Jr.
Etienne signed a four-year contract worth $48 million.
Kamara reflects on his successful partnership with Mark Ingram.
The signing may indicate Kamara's future with the Saints is uncertain.

Mentioned in this story

Jacksonville Jaguars

New Orleans SaintsAlvin KamaraTravis Etienne Jr.

Alvin Kamara talks Saints signing Travis Etienne Jr., hopes for 2026

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara knows better than anyone that success in an NFL backfield doesn't always mean taking on the entire workload. He shared the backfield with Mark Ingram in New Orleans at the start of his career, forming one of the most dominant tandems in recent history.

"I think me and Mark set the bar very high," Kamara said during a Monday evening appearance on The Set YouTube show, hosted by his former teammate Terron Armstead. "That's what efficiency looks like on a very high level."

Now, if he wants to remain on the roster, Kamara will need to re-learn how he worked with Ingram early on in his career. New Orleans made a big splash on the first day of free agency, signing former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. to a lucrative four-year contract worth $48 million. The signing is a clear message to Kamara and the rest of the team that the Saints' legend may have his days numbered.

Speculation regarding Kamara's future has swirled for months, and the arrival of a premier back like Etienne has only amplified the noise. However, Kamara is dismissing any rumors of internal conflict with Etienne or the organization.

"I think a lot of people are thinking this is like beef or something when moves like this happen," Kamara said. "And it’s like, 'Man, I couldn’t be happier.' Like, one, my boy got paid, and two... ain’t nothing but some help in the backfield. That’s the name of the game."

Etienne arrives in New Orleans fresh off a campaign where he rushed for over 1,100 yards and scored seven rushing touchdowns with Jacksonville last season. Kamara, his new teammate, said he's spent the last few seasons watching Etienne "hit home runs" in Jacksonville, and he believes it's the kind of backfield threat New Orleans needs.

"One person can’t do it by themselves, so I’m cool," Kamara said. "I ain't gonna say we’re gonna recreate [what Mark and I had], but we’ll see. We gotta get close."

When Kamara was paired with Ingram in 2017 and 2018, he averaged over 4.5 yards per carry, dominating both the rushing and receiving game, while the duo made plenty of noise as one of the league's best tandems. By sharing the workload, both backs remained fresh and incredibly effecient.

Q&A

What is the significance of the Saints signing Travis Etienne Jr.?

The signing of Travis Etienne Jr. indicates the Saints are looking to enhance their backfield, potentially signaling a shift in Alvin Kamara's role on the team.

How much is Travis Etienne Jr.'s contract with the Saints worth?

Travis Etienne Jr. signed a four-year contract with the Saints worth $48 million.

What did Alvin Kamara say about his past partnership with Mark Ingram?

Alvin Kamara stated that he and Mark Ingram set a high standard for efficiency in the backfield during their time together.

What are Alvin Kamara's hopes for the 2026 NFL season?

Alvin Kamara expressed hopes for his future with the Saints, indicating he needs to adapt to the new dynamics in the backfield following the signing of Etienne.