By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints will be down another major piece Sunday as the team closes out the season against the Atlanta Falcons.
Per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, Saints wide receiver Chris Olave will be out Sunday after a blood clot was detected in his lung.
Chris Olave will be out this week, per source. A blood clot was detected in his lung. Got caught early before anything bad could happen and will be fine. But not playing this week.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) January 1, 2026
Underhill also reports that Olave has been released from the hospital and is doing well. Because the ailment was caught early, long-term impact appears to be considered unlikely.
Olave’s season ends with several career highs including 100 receptions, 1,163 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches. The wideout finishes one touchdown shy of being the first Saints player in franchise history with 100 catches, over 1,000 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.
Though he finishes short of that history, Olave’s comeback season after contemplating retirement during the summer has been outstanding, establishing himself as the team’s top offensive weapon and putting himself in good position to land a long-term deal with the team.
Without Olave, rookie quarterback Tyler Shough will surely lean on top tight end Juwan Johnson, who has also set career highs in receptions (74) and receiving yards (828). He’ll have a limited wide receiver group including Kevin Austin Jr. (who caught his first career touchdown last week), Dante Pettis and Mason Tipton, who has been managing a groin injury.
From the practice squad, it would not be surprising to see a Saturday elevation for a wideout among the trio of Ronnie Bell, Samori Toure and the recently signed Elijah Cooks.
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