Mark Ingram is set to return from his NFL suspension this week, giving the New Orleans Saints their starting running back after a month away and right in the midst of what is now a three game winning streak, and head coach Sean Payton says the player looks ready to go.

“He looks fine,” Payton said of Ingram. “I’m sure he stayed busy. I mean he wasn’t gone for a year and a half or been a castaway on an island. It was four weeks. He’s in good shape.”

Ingram was banned for the first month of the regular season earlier this year after the league found him in violation of their performance enhancing drugs policy, depriving the Saints of one half the dynamic duo that led football with 23 rushing touchdowns last season.

Payton said the team was thrilled to see Ingram surprise them at the airport when they returned from New York after their win over the Giants.

“Guys are excited,” the coach said. “You come off a win like that and then you get one of your guys back. Shoot, he was super excited. I think the feeling from everyone to see one of their leaders (back) and a guy that’s a big part of our backfield, especially coming off a road win like that.”

Without having him on the field in September, the Saints struggled somewhat moving the ball on the ground. In their regular season opener, a 48-40 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Saints averaged a mere 3.3 yards per carry.

The next week, a victory over the Cleveland Browns, they managed just 2.7 yards per rush. They fared better against the Falcons’ injury depleted defense, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. In the Week 4 win over the Giants, New Orleans had the same number.

Kamara has rushed for 275 yards on 56 carries while New Orleans ranks exactly average in the league with 418 total yards, a 4.4 yard per rush average, and rank second with seven rushing touchdowns, including the three Kamara had in the Giants game.

Now, with Ingram back in the fold, the Saints believe they can make a statement. Over the past five seasons, Ingram has averaged 4.7 yards per carry, a number that increases to five yards exactly when counting just the past two seasons.

The Saints will figure out how to employ Ingram properly back into the rotation this week as they prepare to host the Washington Redskins at home in Week 5.

“We will figure out the balance with the Redskins game and going forward each game,” Payton said. “You’re always kind of looking at how you want to play the game. But yes of course, you have a little bit more versatility with someone with Mark’s experience and I know it will be good for us offensively to have him back.”