Remember when the Saints used to have a million safeties?

That seems like a long time ago.

With rookie safety and special-teams contributor Vinnie Sunseri nursing an injury, the Saints acquired a free agent with similar qualities on Tuesday: Jamarca Sanford.

The Saints created a spot on their roster by waiving guard/center Eric Olsen, the NFL said. Sanford’s joining the Saints wasn’t official Tuesday, but a league source confirmed he had reached terms on a deal with New Orleans.

A mainstay on the special-teams coverage units as well as a rookie fifth-round draft choice out of Alabama, Sunseri hurt himself defending the kickoff the Saints booted to start the third quarter of their 27-24 overtime defeat at home against the 49ers.

Guess you could say the same thing about running backs. "Can never have enough running backs," we used to say.  Maybe people don't feel that way as much now.   People are wrong though.

Ingram has averaged 27 carries and 131 yards over the last three games while Khiry Robinson (forearm) and Pierre Thomas (rib/shoulder) have been sidelined with injury. No Saint has rushed for three consecutive 100-yard games since Deuce McAllister did so nine straight times in 2003.

Ingram's increased production begs an obvious question as the other backs prepare to return: Has he done enough to maintain this workload, or will coach Sean Payton return to the running-back-by-committee approach he has long favored?

"It'll all handle itself," Payton said Monday. "That'll work itself out. I've said before, it's important to have numbers at (running back) and this is a good case in point for that."