After their 34-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football in Week 16, the New Orleans Saints are now 5-10 and struggling to finish the 2024 season. What began as a promising campaign, including blowout victories in their first two games, quickly fell apart due to a series of injuries, a recurring issue for the team in recent years.
One notable casualty of the injury bug is wide receiver Chris Olave, who sustained a concussion in the Saints’ Week Nine loss to the Carolina Panthers. However, Olave may be able to return for New Orleans’ Week 17 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Olave has fully participated in practice for two consecutive days, according to a report from Ross Jackson of LouisianaSports.net on Twitter/X. His return would be a significant boost for the Saints, as he has caught 32 passes for 400 yards and one touchdown in the eight games he has played this season, ranking as the team’s third-leading receiver behind Alvin Kamara and Juwan Johnson.
While Olave’s potential return would be a small victory for the Saints, the team still faces numerous injury concerns, particularly on offense. Quarterback Derek Carr (left hand), running back Kamara (groin), center Erik McCoy (elbow), and guard Lucas Patrick (knee) have all missed practice the past two days.
Additionally, tight end Johnson (foot) and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling have been limited in practice this week. If Olave takes the field on Sunday, he may find himself with little support, as the Saints’ offense remains severely hampered by injuries.
Is it worth it for Chris Olave to play in New Orleans’ final two games?
After missing seven games due to a concussion, it’s worth questioning whether it’s wise for the Saints to risk putting Chris Olave back on the field this season. Olave has suffered two concussions in the 2024 season alone, bringing his total to four in his NFL career. With the Saints already eliminated from playoff contention, there seems to be little incentive to rush his recovery and risk another concussion.
For both Olave and the team, prioritizing his long-term health over a few remaining games makes sense. With New Orleans having little to play for at this stage, bringing Olave back too soon could have detrimental effects on his future career and the team’s future success.
It may be more beneficial for Olave to focus on fully recovering and ensuring he’s healthy for the upcoming season rather than pushing himself back into action in a meaningless game.
