Saints catcher Chris Olave developed a blood clot and will miss the final game of the season, a source confirmed to ESPN.
NEW ORLEANS — The recipient of the New Orleans Saints, Chris Olave, developed a blood clot in one of his lungs and will miss the last game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Olave, who was listed on the injury report with an illness after missing training Wednesday, has no history of blood clots and is expected to recover within the next month. He will be able to participate in the Saints’ preseason program when it begins in April, according to source.
Olave posted a photo of himself in the hospital on Instagram on Thursday, writing: “Thank God for everything! I’m right where I need to be, life is full of unexpected twists and turns and I’m grateful to experience them. Cheer up, keep your head up and move on. I don’t want your pity, just talk to God for me. I’ll be back soon!”
“Chris had an illness… obviously, he’s dealing with it with our medical team,” coach Kellen Moore said Thursday. “Our medical team is excellent and the fact that they were able to anticipate this is a credit to them. He is in very good hands.”
Olave, 25, will finish his fourth season with the Saints with a career-high 1,163 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The player, a first-round pick in the 2022 draft, will enter the fifth year of his contract if he and the Saints do not reach an extension agreement before the start of the 2026 season.
“Football is a sport, but life is much more important. So, first of all, his health is the most important thing. And then thinking that his health is going to be fine and that he’s in great hands, the next thing is thinking about him,” offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said Thursday. “What a season, what a great job he’s done, what accomplishments he’s accomplished! And we would have liked to see him finish the season, but it wasn’t possible. So our thoughts and prayers were with him.”
Olave, who has been dealing with a recurring back injury this season, was able to play in the win against the Tennessee Titans in Week 17 after receiving treatment on Friday and Saturday.
Last week he said his goal was to play in all 17 games after missing the second half of the 2024 season after suffering two documented concussions.
“I think it will be the first time in my NFL career that I play all 17 games,” Olave said Sunday. “It means a lot. One of my goals, one of my main goals for this year, is to try to play all 17 games. Play through the injuries, despite everything. So I’m very grateful, like I said. I have to give all the glory to God for being in this position. We just have to finish well next week.”
Olave said he contemplated retiring at one point last season after consulting with concussion specialists.
“It was a tough time last year,” Olave said after the Saints’ win against the New York Jets on Dec. 21. “I was only 24 years old and I was contemplating retirement, especially because of the head injuries, but I prayed about it. My family, my close family, was there for me. They supported me, and I decided to try again, give myself another chance. And it’s been a great year.”
New Orleans Football was the first outlet to report the news.
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