Report: Saints’ WR Chris Olave expected to play vs. Dolphins

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS, La. — The New Orleans Saints are expected to have one of their most important offensive pieces available Sunday as they take on the Miami Dolphins in South Beach. 

Per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, wide receiver Chris Olave is expected to play Sunday despite being questionable headed into the matchup. 

Olave left practice on Wednesday with a back injury and did not participate on Thursday. Just when things looked to be trending the wrong way for the wideout, he returned to the field Friday and now appears to be good to go for the game. 

The receiver’s absence would have been a tough pill to swallow for the Saints. The team is already without starting center Erik McCoy and star running back Alvin Kamara and has already seen two featured wideouts depart. 

New Orleans will lean on Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson as the primary weapons in its passing attack Sunday. Being without his top receiver would have been a particularly challenging situation for rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. 

Olave has collected 69 receptions for 734 receiving yards and four touchdown catches on the season so far. With six games remaining, he is on pace to set career highs in catches, receiving yards and touchdown receptions. 

He needs to average just over three catches and 65 yards receiving per game the rest of the way, and catch just two more touchdowns, to set new career highs in those categories.