Tag: Concussion

Chris Olave officially placed on Saints injured reserve

Chris Olave has officially placed on the New Orleans Saints injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the next four games:

The New Orleans Saints are placing Chris Olave on injured reserve. This doesn’t necessarily end his season, but it does guarantee he will be out for at least the next four games.

The Saints have a bye week coming soon, so it’s important to note Olave has to miss four games, not four weeks. He won’t be eligible to return until Week 15 against the Washington Commanders if he returns at all.

Darren Rizzi has spoken about prioritizing Olave the person over the player. That’s an important and correct stance when it comes to concussions. Placing him on injured reserve keeps him from trying to rush back to the field. There should be legitimate conversations on whether it is worth it to come back for Olave long term.

Olave has suffered four concussions in his professional career, including two this year very close to each other. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Olave miss the remainder of the season.

Injured reserve is ‘on the table’ for Saints star wide receiver

Injured reserve is ‘on the table’ for New Orleans Saints star Chris Olave. Four concussions in just three years is a lot for the wide receiver to consider:

Chris Olave won’t be active when the New Orleans Saints kick off with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and there’s at least a possibility the star wide receiver won’t play another down this season. Olave suffered the fourth concussion of his brief NFL career last week, which can have long-lasting impacts on his health and wellbeing.

All that’s certain is that Olave has already been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Beyond that, who can say?

“Everything’s on the table,” interim head coach Darren Rizzi said Friday, when injured reserve came up as a possibility for Olave. That determination hasn’t been made yet and Olave is still meeting with concussion specialists and team doctors before making a decision.

A stint on injured reserve would last at least the next four weeks, sidelining Olave for three home games with the Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Los Angeles Rams as well as the bye in Week 12. But if he’s still feeling symptoms and struggling with this brain injury, the better move could be to end his season altogether. We’ve reached a point where his career in pro football should be considered seriously. Stay tuned for further updates.

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Saints rule out four players vs. Falcons on final Week 10 injury report

The New Orleans Saints ruled out four players for Sunday’s rivalry game with the Atlanta Falcons on the final Week 10 injury report:

The New Orleans Saints ruled out four players for Sunday’s rivalry game with the Atlanta Falcons on the final Week 10 injury report, including star wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion). He’ll be joined on the sideline by wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder), cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring), and left guard Lucas Patrick (ankle). Starting center Erik McCoy (groin), w ho recently returned to practice, is doubtful to suit up.

Seven more Saints players are questionable for Sunday. That list includes safety J.T. Gray (back), cornerback Rico Payton (back), running  back  Jamaal Williams (groin), defensive tackle John Ridgway (oblique), safety Will Harris (hamstring), guard/center Shane Lemieux (knee), and linebacker Nephi Sewell (knee).

Two more Saints players were listed on the injury report this week, but they are both expected to play — running back Alvin Kamara (hand) and quarterback Derek Carr (illness).

For Atlanta, inside linebacker JD Bertrand (concussion) has been preemptively ruled out, whereas wide receiver Drake London (hip) and center Drew Dalman (ankle) are each questionable. It feels safe to say the Falcons have an advantage in team health for this week’s game.

Here’s the full and final Week 10 Saints-Falcons injury report:

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Saints share some good news on Week 10 injury report update

The New Orleans Saints shared some good news on Week 10’s injury report update ahead of their game with the Atlanta Falcons:

There were two big changes to the New Orleans Saints injury report ahead of Week 10’s game with the Atlanta Falcons. Two starters on injured reserve returned to practice, one of them receiving an upgrade to full reps — safety Will Harris (hamstring). Another, center Erik  McCoy (groin), practiced on a limited basis. McCoy’s return is likely a week away or more but that’s a big step in the right direction.

Other than that, it’s more of the same. Wide receivers Chris Olave (concussion) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) still didn’t participate. Neither did cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring) nor left guard Lucas Patrick (ankle). Here’s everything you need to know:

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Saints share another positive update regarding Chris Olave’s status

The Saints shared another positive update on Chris Olave’s injury. He’ll fly home with his teammates after a scary concussion:

The New Orleans Saints suffered a tough blow early in their matchup against the Carolina Panthers, as wide receiver Chris Olave suffered a concussion and was sent to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center for evaluation. According to the CBS broadcast and the Saints’ public relations account, Olave was discharged from the hospital and will fly home with the team after the game ends.

“One last Chris Olave update guys, and it’s a good one,” CBS sideline reporter Amanda Balionis said on the broadcast. “He’s on his way back to the stadium and he will be flying home with the team.”

This is an enormously positive sign, as the initial contact and injury most definitely looked very concerning as he went face down onto the field. Thankfully, Olave will be able to travel with the team back to New Orleans. Given his previous history of concussions, it is good to hear he was discharged and was not held for further evaluation.

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Chris Olave’s brother on NFL future: ‘Ain’t worth it in NOLA’

Four concussions in three years would give some players pause. Chris Olave’s brother shared his take on the wideout’s NFL future: ‘Ain’t worth it in NOLA’

Chris Olave suffered his fourth concussion in his brief NFL career on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, leading New Orleans Saints fans to question whether it’s worth it to keep playing pro football after sustaining so many dangerous brain injuries.

It’s the opinion of his brother Josh that he shouldn’t, at least not with the Saints. Responding to a fan on social media, Josh Olave wrote that his brother continuing to put his body in harm’s way “Ain’t worth it in NOLA, I’ll tell you that.”

That’s an understandable reaction. He just saw his brother carted off the field on a stretcher and taken to a hospital. The Saints are a two-win football team with all the symptoms of a poorly-coached and poorly-run organization, prone to penalties, missed tackles, and botched assignments. Not to mention the preventable injuries with a series of soft-tissue problems hitting multiple position groups. They’re in a bad way. For players like Olave who came from programs with histories of success, that’s a difficult culture to accept.

So it’s easy to see Josh Olave’s point of view. The question is whether Chris shares it. If he’s going to put his body on the line like this, that decision would be much more justifiable if he were playing for a Super Bowl contender.

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Michael Thomas airs out Derek Carr after Chris Olave’s injury

Ex-Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas criticized Derek Carr immediately after Chris Olave went down with a concussion against the Panthers:

After returning from a concussion just a week ago, Chris Olave suffered another concussion at the beginning of the New Orleans Saints’ game against the Carolina Panthers. Watching from home, ex-Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas didn’t waste time calling out Derek Carr on social media in a series of tweets.

Carr threw a ball high over the middle to the point it was uncatchable, and Olave took a big hit on the play. Thomas jumped on Carr’s lack of accuracy by reflecting on Davante Adams’ catch percentage in his All-Pro season in Las Vegas.

Thomas also called out Carr’s tendency to get antsy with any pressure, saying Carr panics and just throws the ball. It’s difficult to argue with some of the points Thomas was making.

This isn’t the first time Thomas has called out Carr and most times it has been in defense of Olave. He and Olave are both Ohio State Buckeyes and appeared to have a good relationship since Olave was drafted. Thomas isn’t on a team after being released back in March, but you have to think a team will sign the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year sooner or later.

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Saints share update on Chris Olave injury vs. Panthers

The Saints issued a positive health update on Chris Olave after he sustained a concussion in a big hit against the Panthers:

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has movement in his extremities and is being evaluated at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center after being diagnosed with a concussion against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, the team announced on social media.

Olave briefly lost consciousness on the field after a big hit from Panthers safety Xavier Woods, who drew a foul for unnecessary roughness on the  play. He was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.

This would be the fourth concussion in a series of brain injuries for Olave. The young pro has switched helmets and considered wearing a Guardian cap into games to better protect himself, but it’s something that must be handled seriously. We may be entering the point where his NFL future should be contemplated. For now, though, here’s to a full recovery.

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Chris Olave carted off after scary hit vs. Panthers

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was carted off on an immobilizing stretcher after a scary hit from Panthers safety Xavier Woods:


This is the worst thing to see in an NFL game. New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was carted off on an immobilizing stretcher after a scary hit from Carolina Panthers safety Xavier Woods. Derek Carr’s pass sailed too high for Olave to catch it and the wideout was sandwiched between Woods and the Panthers defender covering him. He remained motionless on the turf after the collision.

Players from both teams crowded around as the medical staff attended to Olave, as did Saints coach Dennis Allen. It’s an awful situation. Olave raised his arms after he was placed on the cart, which is a great sign, but he’s already suffered three concussions in his brief NFL career. He practiced this  week with a unique Guardian cap over his helmet and considered wearing it into the game, but ultimately chose not to. Few players do.

Hopefully this wasn’t as serious as it looked, but Olave shouldn’t be expected to return to this game against the Panthers. Stay tuned for updates.

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Chris Olave practicing with unique Guardian cap at Saints practice

Whether or not he wears it into a game, using a Guardian cap could be a good idea for Chris Olave after several concussions:

NFL teams are required to wear Guardian caps on their helmets at practice, and players have the option to wear it during live game action, but only a few around the league have chosen to do so: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Josh Whyle, James Daniels, Jabrill Peppers, Kylen Gransen, Rodney Thomas II, De’Von Achane, and Luke Goedeke, among others.

It appears Chris Olave may be on the way to being the first New Orleans Saints to select that option. ESPN’s Katherine Terrell made an interesting observation at Wednesday’s practice. Olave was the only player whose Guardian cap had a fleur-de-lis on it. Most of the protective headwear is blank, so the external team logo may suggest it could be worn in-game.

Whether or not he goes through with it, wearing a Guardian cap could be a good idea for Olave. He has a history of concussions that dates back to college. In the pros, he’s suffered one concussion in each season. The wide receiver just returned from a concussion last week, and took a big hit in the first game that led to him heading to the blue tent in his first game back.

Three concussions in three years is serious and wearing the Guardian cap adds at least one extra preventative measure for Olave. Any more concussions, and we’ll start having some uncomfortable conversations about Olave’s future.

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