New Orleans Saints' Chris Olave faces his fourth career concussion
New Orleans Saints standout wide receiver Chris Olave recently sustained another concussion in what marked the final game of the Dennis Allen coaching era. This time, Olave took a hard hit to the head after quarterback Derek Carr threw a risky pass over the middle of the field.
Concussions are serious enough on their own, but the situation is especially alarming for the young receiver, a former first-round draft pick. Since entering the NFL, Olave has endured at least four confirmed concussions, with two occurring just this season in 2024. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi confirmed that Olave will be consulting with medical specialists before deciding on his NFL future.
If this injury report is any indication, this latest concussion could bring Saints WR’s career to a close. Concussions are notoriously dangerous for players’ long-term health, so only time will tell how this will play out for Olave.
However, if he does return to the field, it might not be with the Saints. Shortly after the injury, Olave’s brother took to Twitter, hinting at a possible move by saying, “ain’t worth it in Nola [New Orleans].” Assuming health isn’t a barrier, the New England Patriots or Los Angeles Chargers might be interested in pursuing him in the offseason.
The New England Patriots are likely interested in Olave, given that they’ve found their future quarterback in third-overall draft pick, Drake Maye. Replacing Jacoby Brissett, who struggled in the position, Maye has injected a spark into an otherwise lackluster offense.
Almost singlehandedly generating most of the team’s yardage, he’s managing to push through a weak receiving corps, poor protection on the line, and questionable coaching. With their quarterback spot finally looking solid, the Patriots now need to build an offense around him that makes his job easier.
Trading for a reliable wide receiver like Olave could be the best path forward. Besides Demario Douglas, the Patriots have little consistency at wide receiver. While they’re set to have the league’s largest cap space next season, allowing them to target someone like Chris Godwin, the team needs more than one receiver to boost their offense.
With the first-overall pick within reach, New England might even trade their top draft pick to the quarterback-hungry Saints in exchange for Olave and the Saints’ own first-round pick. This approach would give New England multiple reliable pass-catchers while also allowing them to pick an offensive lineman in the first round.
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi, who stepped in after Dennis Allen was dismissed following Sunday’s loss, shared on Wednesday that the Saints are “taking things day by day” with Olave to ensure his health remains the top priority.
“He wants to go thoroughly through the process and making sure he’s making the best decision for Chris Olave, removing football from that equation. … What’s the best decision for the person?” Rizzi explained. “So, my conversations with him and our medical staff, we’ve been thorough and his family’s going to be thorough with the process. I completely support that. I have five kids of my own, and if that was one of my kids, I would want to do the same thing.”
With four diagnosed concussions in his NFL tenure, Olave’s history with head injuries is extensive. Beyond his most recent concussion earlier in the season against the Buccaneers, he also sustained one during his rookie season and another last year.
He was assessed for a possible concussion in a game against the Chargers, though he stayed in the game after being cleared. Following his first concussion this season, Olave opted to switch to a supposedly safer helmet model. However, he has chosen not to wear a Guardian Cap during games.
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