By Greg Bates
Correspondent
It was a wild four months for Alec Ingold.
Ingold is hoping life can get back to normal and he can make a triumphant return to the football field, this time in a new uniform.
The former Bay Port and Wisconsin star blew out his right knee Nov. 14, thus missing the remainder of last season.
He was then released by the Las Vegas Raiders and picked up by the Miami Dolphins five weeks later.
“I’m excited to be here,” Ingold told media members via Zoom March 21. “I know that’s a cliché answer, but being a part of this organization is exciting, and I’m going to throw myself into it. I’m going to be here as much as possible in Miami.”
Ingold was sporting a Miami Marlins baseball cap during his press conference.
Ingold, a fullback, had three solid years with the Raiders after being picked up as an undrafted free agent.
He played in 41 games and was the lead blocker for Josh Jacobs, who eclipsed more than 3,000 yards rushing in his first three seasons in the NFL.
Ingold finished his Raiders’ career with 15 carries for 22 yards – getting first-down yardage on 10 of those attempts.
He also caught 28 balls for 239 yards and 3 touchdowns, including the first score in Allegiant Stadium history.
Ingold tore the ACL in his right knee on Sunday Night Football versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
“The knee is doing great,” Ingold said. “No setbacks so far. I’m going to knock on wood there, and we’re going to keep rolling.”
The 25-year-old was released by the Raiders, which have a new head coach and offensive system, on March 10.
It took six days for Ingold to get snatched up by Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier and new Head Coach Mike McDaniel.
On March 17, Ingold inked a two-year contract, reportedly for $7.5 million.
That makes him the second-highest-paid fullback in the league.
Ingold has also excelled on special teams while in the NFL.
“Coach McDaniel, his reputation precedes himself, so as soon as we got the call from Chris Grier that we had a deal in place, it was a done deal,” he said. “I was excited to work with this coaching staff. I have a relationship with (Dolphins Offensive Coordinator) Frank (Smith) and then getting to meet Mike (McDaniel) was outstanding. It was good to sit in the office, hang out, talk ball and get a vision for this team and find that role and what we can do here.”
NFL fullbacks are a dying breed and many stay in contact with one another.
“I watched all of the (San Francisco) 49ers film since I’ve been in the league – watching ‘Juice’ (49ers’ fullback Kyle Juszczyk) do his thing, watching Pat Ricard, C.J. Ham and Derek Watt,” Ingold said. “Being able to follow those guys, follow those offenses, seeing how they do their techniques and how they play football. We take great pride in changing the dynamic of an offense. As soon as 21, 22 personnel come out, it’s a different flow of the game. We all take pride in that, and that’s something I do any time I put a helmet on. It’s exciting to be a fullback in this league, for sure.”