The New Orleans Saints watched their star receiver, Chris Olave, sustain another concussion three weeks ago.
The explosive Olave has been out of action since Week 9 and there is uncertainty about his return in 2024.
Here’s the latest on Olave’s health and how the Saints have responded.
What Is Chris Olave’s Injury?
During a game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9, Saints wide receiver Olave absorbed a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit from safety Xavier Woods. The play resulted in a penalty and subsequent fine against Woods and a concussion for Olave.
The moments immediately after the hit were ominous as Olave lay motionless on the field for several minutes before he was stretchered into the bowels of the stadium and eventually taken to a local hospital.
The NFL fined #Panthers S Xavier Woods $16,883 for unnecessary roughness — a hit on #Saints WR Chris Olave, who suffered another concussion and is headed to IR. pic.twitter.com/ZNj9RnlZl5
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 9, 2024
Olave was diagnosed with a concussion then was discharged that day and flew home with the Saints.
When Will Olave Return From Injury?
The concussion suffered in Week 9 is Olave’s second this season and reportedly his fifth since his days playing for Ohio State. Given the stringent nature of the NFL’s concussion protocol and Olave’s history with head injuries, there is uncertainty about the star receiver’s timeline for a return.
“We’re trying to figure out what’s the best now for the long term,” Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi told reporters. “There’s a process in which he’s going through. He met with our people and then there’s people outside the building.
SEE MORE: NFL Injury Report
“Chris is going to be out right now for the short term, and then we’ll make a decision for the long term. But he is meeting with multiple people and everyone here, our medical staff has been in touch with all of them.”
New Orleans placed Olave on injured reserve on Nov. 10, a designation that results in at least a four-game absence. That means the earliest Olave could return is Week 15, although Rizzi’s commentary suggests there’s reason to believe his absence could extend beyond that.
How Will Olave’s Absence Impact the Saints?
Olave isn’t the only reliable Saints pass catcher out of action. Rashid Shaheed is out for the season with a knee injury, and both Bub Means (ankle) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) have missed time as well.
In the absence of the regulars, though, it’s been an all-around effort for quarterback Derek Carr’s pass catchers. Carr has thrown for 517 yards and four touchdowns in the two games without three of his top pass catchers, and the target distribution has been wide-ranging.
Human Swiss army knife Taysom Hill has led the club in targets over the past two weeks with 12. He’s hauled in 10 of those offerings for 86 yards. The most sensational performer has been veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who caught three passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns in Week 10 and followed that up with two more catches for 87 yards and another touchdown in Week 11.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling doing it all with his legs for a 71 yard TD pic.twitter.com/uWUhznMfbq
— Saints Film Room (@SaintsFilmRoom) November 17, 2024
Others who’ve contributed the past two weeks have included running back Alvin Kamara (five catches on six targets), tight end Juwan Johnson (five catches and one touchdown on five targets), and receiver Kevin Austin Jr. (three catches for 54 yards on four targets), among others.
New Orleans has won both games since Olave’s injury, defeating Atlanta in Week 10 and Cleveland in Week 11.