The New Orleans Saints are missing their top receiver Chris Olave, who has been out since suffering a frightening head injury in Week 9.
Here’s the latest on Olave and how the Saints are dealing with the loss of their No. 1 wide receiver.
What Is Chris Olave’s Injury?
In the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9, Olave collided with Panthers safety Xavier Woods. Olave was attempting to haul in a pass from Derek Carr, and Woods was closing quickly to prevent the connection.
The collision was violent and resulted in Olave lying motionless on the ground as Saints medical personnel rushed to his aide. Woods was penalized and fined for the hit.
Olave was stretchered off the field and then taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, where he was diagnosed with a concussion. He was eventually released in time to fly home with the team.
When Will Olave Return From Injury?
It’s been over a month since Olave’s injury, but due to the NFL’s concussion protocol, Olave’s history of concussions, and the Saints’ insistence on precaution in this case, it remains uncertain as to whether he’ll return this season.
New Orleans placed Olave on injured reserve on Nov. 10, which requires at least a four-game absence. That means Olave is eligible to return for the team’s next game in Week 15. However, Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi has insinuated that the team could hold him out for longer than the minimum required length.
SEE MORE: NFL Injury Report
“We’re trying to figure out what’s the best now for the long term,” Rizzi told reporters in November. “There’s a process in which he’s going through. He met with our people, and then there’s people outside the building.
“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.”
The concussion suffered in Week 9 is Olave’s second this season and his fifth documented head injury dating back to his college career at Ohio State.
The good news is that Olave has been present at the team facility for meetings, though there’s been no indication that the team plans to open his 21-day practice window to make him eligible to return. He did make an appearance on the sidelines of the team’s Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
How Will Olave’s Absence Impact the Saints?
New Orleans is teetering on the verge of extinction from the playoff race. Even with the mediocre state of the NFC South race, the Saints are a long shot to put together the late-season surge necessary to enter the playoffs.
Any outside chances of getting back into the hunt rest on winning out, and winning out is much more possible with a healthy Olave in the lineup.
Unfortunately for New Orleans, 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. Week 13 brought the latest blow, with Swiss army knife Taysom Hill suffering a season-ending torn ACL.
New Orleans has games remaining against the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two of the teams ahead of them in the playoff chase, so there’s an opportunity to make up ground. But with so little left from the offensive core that piled up 91 points in the first two games of the season, it’s improbable that the Saints will remain in the playoff hunt for much longer.
