Chris Olave missed the last eight games with a concussion. The wide receiver shared an update on his health and steps he’s taking for next season:
Chris Olave’s 2024 season was heavily compromised by concussions. The New Orleans Saints’ lead receiver has suffered a concussion every year he’s been in the NFL, and this year he suffered two concussions that kept him out for nine games.
From this point on, concussions will be concern for the wide receiver. Olave’s history makes it hard not to think about it when watching him play, similar to Tua Tagovailoa. Olave will take a look at changing helmets next year in an attempt to lower his chances of future concussions.
In his post-season interview, Olave said he felt, “regular” a couple of times and stated he felt “No symptoms, as far as concussions symptoms since I’ve been hurt.”
Every player isn’t lucky enough for symptoms not to linger, so that’s an extremely positive update. The decision to not return to the field was purely about the future.
Olave did come back to practice but was never activated. He explained: “It’s about long-term health, and that’s what I was worried about these last few games.”
It was the correct step. Darren Rizzi always stressed the Saints would prioritize the person over the player, and this is an example of that. After sitting out the remainder of the season, all signs point to him having a healthy offseason and taking the proper preventative steps for next year.
Report: Derek Carr is ‘very unlikely’ to return from hand injury in time to play again this season
Derek Carr didn’t receive good news on his fractured hand in a recent checkup. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the New Orleans Saints quarterback is “at least a few weeks away from being able to withstand contact” after breaking his non-throwing hand in two places.
With just three weeks left in the Saints’ 2024 season, there’s a strong possibility that Carr won’t be able to get the green light to return in time to play again this year. After traveling to face the Green Bay Packers (Dec. 23) next week, the Saints will return home for a matchup with Carr’s old Las Vegas Raiders (Dec. 29) team before closing out their season on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Jan. 5).
That sentiment was echoed by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, who added that while “there was no surgery, it’s not a minor injury.” Carr’s ability to grip a football and execute his responsibilities from one snap to the next is in question, and it’s too risky to put him on the field until he’s healed up.
So expect rookie backup Spencer Rattler to start next Monday night against the Packers. Rattler outplayed Jake Haener (who got the initial start) on Sunday and should get the nod this week.
As for Carr; we may have already seen him throw a pass in a Saints uniform for the last time. His 2025 salary cap hit doesn’t match his production and the Saints have a few options worth exploring if their next head coach doesn’t intend to build around him. We’ll just have to wait and see how things develop in the weeks and months ahead.
Dennis Allen says the Saints could have their starting quarterback against the Panthers. Derek Carr is undefeated against Carolina:
Dennis Allen says the New Orleans Saints could have their starting quarterback in the lineup against the Carolina Panthers. Derek Carr is undefeated against Carolina, having beaten the Panthers twice when he was with the Raiders. He’s won three in a row against them since joining the Saints including a blowout 47-10 victory to start this season.
Carr has missed the last three games with an oblique muscle injury, which Allen characterized as more of a mechanical issue than a pain tolerance question. The quarterback twisted his torso awkwardly winding up to throw against the Kansas City Chiefs back in Week 5, which caused an injury that’s proven tricky to treat. But he’s recently begun throwing again and is progressing in his recovery.
Hopefully his return makes a difference. The Saints had already lost three in a row when Carr went down with his injury, but they’ve since fallen further to a 2-6 record. With the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers beginning to pull away in the NFC South title race, it’s vital that the Saints avoid another loss to a divisional opponent this Sunday, with or without Carr in the lineup.
The door is officially open for a Derek Carr return, as he has begun throwing the football again. His recovery from injury is picking up steam:
The New Orleans Saints have been without Derek Carr for the last two games. The Saints quarterback suffered an oblique injury on his last throw of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Spencer Rattler has taken over in the last two weeks and will continue to hold that title as long as Carr is out. It appears Carr is getting closer to returning, as he has begun throwing the football.
Dennis Allen relayed this message on Monday saying Carr “had a throwing session today, he’ll have another throwing session tomorrow, and see where we’re at.”
Carr showed his toughness by fighting through injuries last year. Allen has made it clear this injury isn’t about the ability to grit through pain. It’s about the ability to move. Carr beginning to throw opens the door to a return at anytime.
Allen called Carr questionable for this week’s game before seeing Carr throw, and called a Week 9 return “very likely.” If Carr’s throwing sessions go well enough, we may see an early return. That wouldn’t be known until late in the week, though.
Dennis Allen says the Saints are taking the slow and safe route with Juwan Johnson, but he acknowledges the value in the timing of Johnson’s return:
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson returned to practice on Tuesday. It was the team’s first open practice at Yulman Stadium, and fans were treated to something special. Publicly, Johnson’s path to return took expedited turn north when he was removed from the physically unable to perform list.
Now that Johnson has returned, Saints head coach Dennis Allen says the plan is to “slowly but surely start to ramp him up.” They’re excited to have him back. Johnson’s return comes at a good time for the team.
“We need him, we need (Rashid) Shaheed, we need some of these players that we’re counting on in the passing game, so we can get the timing and the rhythm in the passing game,” Allen said after practice.
Johnson has missed the entirety of camp while recovering from offseason foot surgery. These two weeks before the season opener will be vital for him actually getting reps in the new offense. He’s surely continued to study and learn the playbook, but there’s no replacement for actually running the plays.
Dennis Allen says he and his coaching staff have a responsibility to help Chase Young reach his potential, but he sees a player who has ‘bought into everything’
Chase Young has been a force after making a quick return from offseason neck surgery, and the Saints are raving about his work on and off the field @NFLonCBSpic.twitter.com/JOeppLb8lj
There might not be a more exciting player at New Orleans Saints training camp than Chase Young. The former second overall draft pick has been ramping up in team drills after recovering from offseason neck surgery well ahead of schedule, and everyone around him is excited to see what he can do in 2024 — including his head coach Dennis Allen.
Allen spoke about Young’s strong start to training camp with Jonathan Jones for CBS Sports. But what’s interesting is that he’s putting less pressure on the player and more on Young’s head coach, defensive coordinator, and position coach.
“He’s got all the ability to play at an elite level in our league. And so now our job is to see how can we get him to perform that way more consistently. And that’s charged on me, that’s charged on Joe Woods, that’s charged on Todd Grantham. How do we get this guy to play at the level he’s capable of at a more consistent level?” Allen said.
But while he acknowledged the coaches must shoulder some of the responsibility, Allen spoke highly of what he’s seen of Young’s ability to self-motivate and buy into what they’re asking of him. He’s seen a player with a great combination of talent and enthusiasm, with a huge opportunity in front of him.
“Look, the great thing about,” Allen said, pausing to consider his words. “Everything he’s that done to this point, coming in here, he’s exceeded expectations in terms of his work ethic. In terms of coming in and doing everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s bought into everything. And when you see him out here you notice him when he’s on the field. He’s a disruptive force.”
Young came to the Saints this spring with questions about his effort level trailing him from San Francisco; the 49ers were disappointed in what he gave them after being acquired in a midseason trade with the Washington Commanders. But you have to wonder if the hesitance Young showed on the field last season, which isn’t happening now, was a result of the neck injury he sustained and played through last summer. Now he’s healthy and playing with only the restraints his coaches put on him.
“And so we’re excited about having him,” Allen continued. “I think he’s got an opportunity to have a great season and I think he’s going to be a big addition for us.”
Dennis Allen shared an encouraging update on Marshon Lattimore’s injury: ‘I’m not losing a lot of sleep over it right now’
You’d be hard-pressed to find many coaches who are less worried about their top cornerback going down with an injury than Dennis Allen. Even fewer of them would be keeping their cool if that happened in the first week of training camp. And while Allen acknowledged that it is far from an ideal situation, he isn’t piling on Marshon Lattimore after the four-time Pro Bowler suffered a hip flexor injury last week.
“Well, look, I think any time guys have injuries and miss significant time, and then you get to training camp and they’re dealing with something else that’s going to cause them to miss some time, yeah, it’s concerning. And yet, I’m not losing a lot of sleep over it right now,” Allen told local media after Monday’s practice session.
Allen pointed to the team’s depth at corner as a big source of reassurance, leaning on guys like Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, and Kool-Aid McKinstry as some who “can pick up the slack when he’s unavailable.” He’s seen Adebo and Taylor come through when needed, and McKinstry is a fine replacement (if not an outright upgrade) for Isaac Yiadom, who filled in well when Lattimore missed time last year. He’s singled out McKinstry before as someone who stands to gain from extremely valuable practice reps as Lattimore’s immediate backup.
Still, Allen is eager to see Lattimore back in action and playing to be the best of his abilities. He continued: “Certainly I want him to get healthy, I want him back out here, I think he’s a big part of what we do defensively. When we’re at we’re best he’s playing at a high level. And so hopefully he’ll be able to get his rehab done and get back out here sooner rather than later.”
Hip flexor injuries often take at least a week to work out, with the most serious cases sidelining players for up to six weeks. So in a worst-case scenario Lattimore might miss the rest of training camp and the preseason games before being cleared in time for Week 1. If the injury were more severe Allen probably wouldn’t be speaking about it so glibly. We’ll keep an eye out for Lattimore’s return to practice.
Ryan Ramczyk took a caution approach in knee surgery out of the options available to him, but the New Orleans Saints right tackle still landed in a tight spot:
The Ryan Ramczyk injury and surgery saga has been a difficult one to watch unfold, as he will be missing the season after being placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. However, there are still small glimmers of hope coming out of the New Orleans Saints front office and coaching staff, which could be a positive sign moving into next season.
Head coach Dennis Allen spoke to the media recently, telling ESPN’s Katherine Terrell that Allen saw two options for the surgery on Ramczyk. One option, according to Allen, was “A lot more yes or no, meaning, you do the procedure and if it responds right, it’ll be good. If you don’t, well, he’s done.”
However, Ramczyk took the more cautious approach of the two, which is a good sign. General manager Mickey Loomis also talked about Ramczyk’s status, saying, “If there was any way possible, he (Ramczyk) would be playing.” Loomis also said that he is “hopeful that things can turn around, and with a year off that his knee responds, and he can get back out here for us.”
These quotes both sound like there is a possible glint of hope for 2025 and Ramczyk having a return chance. Ultimately, he needs to put his health first no doubt, and if he feels he is ready next year then maybe the discussion could be had about working into a return. Still, it is nice to hear a positive update on this front regardless, both from the general manager and head coach, as they have significantly more context than the rest of us at this point in time. We’ll just have to wait and see whether Ramczyk can get back out there.
“The hope and belief for now is that he will be back for the start of the season,” Schefter said, which Underhill corroborated. The Saints are scheduled to open their 2024 season on Sept. 8 against the Carolina Panthers, so that Week 1 kickoff game is Johnson’s goal for a return.
It’s a tough break for him. Johnson dealt with a calf injury early in the 2023 season that sidelined him for four games. It took more time for him to establish a connection with Derek Carr, but he finished the season strong with 17 receptions, 216 yards, and three touchdown catches in his last four games. Hopefully he can pick up where he left off once he’s back on the field, but it’s looking like he’ll miss some time in training camp and preseason.
Johnson’s contract is up in 2025 after signing a two-year extension last summer so he needs to make the most of his opportunities when he has them. For now, though, his focus should fall on getting healthy and back in shape to help the team.
For the Disney-loving runner, it’s the dream vacation: visit Kissimmee, Florida, to run through Disney during an exclusive event with your people — those who are similarly obsessed with Disney and can run long distances. This is what runDisney is all about.
But what do you do after your run? The Kissimmee/Orlando area has lots to offer, but it’s awfully spread out and can be overwhelming. After putting all those miles on your feet, recuperate with these fun activities.
Plus, check out even more post-run recovery options here. You can also find your next destination race with this incredible list of marathons.
Photo by Josh Hallett
runDisney races
Before you unwind, pick a Disney run to join in on. Check out runDisney to see upcoming races, including the new Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend, September 5-8, 2024; the four-day Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, October 31-November 3; and the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend, January 8-12, 2025. You’ll find distances ranging from 5Ks up to Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge and the Dopey Challenge, which take you 48.6 miles across all four Walt Disney World theme parks in the Orlando area.
Many runners return again and again to participate in different runDisney events. Shanedra Nowell of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has run in 16 runDisney races, including her first 10K in 2015 and her first half marathon in 2016. “I credit runDisney with invigorating and re-invigorating my love of running,” she said. Nowell has dealt with “injuries off and on,” but said, “when I’ve thought about giving up on running I’ll sign up for a RunDisney race or challenge … training for a Disney race keeps me engaged in the sport.”
Photo by Teresa Bergen
A wellness retreat hotel
As mentioned before, the Greater Orlando area sprawls. Kissimmee, just south of the bigger city of Orlando, is closer to the major theme parks, so is a better base of operations. On a recent trip, I stayed at the wellness-focused Ette Hotel, just six miles from the Magic Kingdom.
This place is an anomaly — a tranquil high-end hotel amongst wide avenues and big box stores. The staff members are attentive and wear chic outfits. There’s a perfume bar as soon as you come in, a cozy pool area, alibrary, Peleton bikes in the rooms, and a spa for that post-run massage.
Photo by Teresa Bergen
The hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Salt & The Cellar, has an excellent separate menu for us vegans and an amazing array of mocktails. While kids are allowed, it’s more appealing to adults. The Ette seems designed for people who want to enjoy Disney during the day and have a more grown-up spa atmosphere at night.
If you want a big space for you and yours, check out one of Kissimmee’s more than 35,000 vacation homes, ranging from simple abodes to ginormous mansions.
Photo by Teresa Bergen
Take an airboat ride
Relax into the natural side of Florida with a trip to Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures. This 32-acre park features a gator lagoon, butterfly garden, fossil and gem mine (regularly restocked with treasures), and, of course, airboat rides. An aircraft-type propeller drives these flat-bottomed watercraft through Lake Tohopekaliga, where captains like Wayne Corbitt help visitors spot gators, snakes, bald eagles, and migratory birds.
Passengers come from all over the world to see “real Florida,” especially alligators. “They give that natural fear for people,” Corbitt told me. “And deservedly so. They are dangerous animals. But for the most part out here in the wild, they try to get away from you.” For an extra thrill, take a nighttime tour between May and October, when gators are most active.
Photo by Teresa Bergen
Learn about local Native culture
Jororo Village is a separate attraction but on the same land as Boggy Creek. Native American educator Oskwanontona Pia Roya demonstrates life in Florida 450 to 1,200 years ago.
“When they come to visit me, what they’re going to see is authenticity,” Pia Roya said, gesturing at a row of traditional huts that showcase hunting tools and cookery. “You’re going to see different skills that have been passed down from generation to generation.” He showcases the pre-contact world, before Spaniards arrived. “I like to say it’s before Mickey Mouse, Super Walmarts, and Seminole Indians,” he said.
Photo by Teresa Bergen
Spend a day at Discovery Cove
My favorite part of visiting the Kissimmee/Orlando area was spending a day at Discovery Cove. This attraction is kind of like a combination water park/theme park/aquarium/zoo where you’re in the water with the animals. You can snorkel on an artificial reef stocked with tropical fish, float through an aviary on a lazy river, or swim with dolphins. My favorite was the reef, where I floated above immense spotted eagle rays and giant shovelnose rays.
Photo by Teresa Bergen
Meander around Celebration
In the mid-90s, the Walt Disney Company founded a planned community designed to epitomize what’s best about small-town America. Celebration is walkable, has a good mix of businesses, is strikingly clean, and features different styles of homes, from condos to big houses.
My canine guide Benji showed me around Celebration’s trail and boardwalk system. / Photo by Teresa Bergen
Miles of scenic trails meander around lakes. If you have enough energy left in your legs after your runDisney race, you can rent a bike and cruise around town. While it may seem too perfect to believe, the small gators in the lake are real. After your bike tour, stop for a Cuban lunch at the Celebration outpost of Florida’s famous Columbia restaurants.
Lunch at Columbia. / Photo by Teresa Bergen
Find good deals on Disney souvenirs
Need Disney souvenirs to commemorate your trip? An incredible number of gift shops sell knick-knacks at cheaper prices than you’ll find inside the park. My favorite was the shop with a huge mermaid sprouting out of the façade, followed by the shops featuring wizards.
Photo by Teresa Bergen
Refuel at top Kissimmee restaurants
Running takes it out of you! Fortunately, the Kissimmee area has lots of good food. I especially like Twenty Pho Hour, a punny pho restaurant that claims to be “America’s first 2D noodle bar.” The whole interior is covered in black and white line drawings made to look like you’re eating in a 2D world.
Twenty Pho Hour’s 2D interior. / Photo by Teresa Bergen
If you like to combine nightlife with dinner, Estefan Kitchen Orlando offers fun and loud entertainment while you eat Cuban-inspired food. After eating enough black beans and plantains, you’ll be fueled up and ready to register for your next runDisney race.
Disclaimer: While this article was not sponsored, Outdoors Wire did visit Kissimmee during a press trip withExperience Kissimmee and its partners. As always, Outdoors Wire operates independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
