New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram could become a free agent this month, but the Saints are aiming to prevent the possibility of Ingram leaving.

According to Sean Fazende of FOX 8 New Orleans, Ingram has acknowledged that contract talks between him and the team have begun. Fazende added that the two sides are scheduled to meet next week.

Ingram is coming off of a 2018 campaign in which he rushed for 645 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 4.7 yards per carry. In addition, he caught 21 passes for 170 yards and a score.

The 29-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was originally selected by the Saints in the first round (28th pick overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft.

He played in 10 games during his rookie season, rushing for 474 yards and five touchdowns. Ingram's breakout year, however, came during his fourth season in 2014, when he finished with 964 yards and nine scores en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.

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The following year, Ingram also began to develop into a legitimate pass-catching threat out of the backfield, hauling in 50 receptions for 405 yards in addition to accumulating 769 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

Ingram then achieved his first 1,000-yard campaign in 2016, racking up 1,043 yards while reaching the end zone six times as a rusher. He also snared 46 balls for 319 yards and three scores.

The Hackensack, N.J. native then made his second Pro Bowl appearance in 2017, totaling a career-high 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also registered 58 catches for 416 yards.

New Orleans is coming off of a season in which they won 13 games and suffered a devastating loss in the NFC Championship Game to the Los Angeles Rams.