Why Saints WR Chris Olave won’t play in NFL Week 18 season finale
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave will miss the team’s Week 18 season finale against the Atlanta Falcons after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung, according to multiple reports on Thursday, Jan 1.
The 25-year-old did not participate in the team’s Wednesday practice and the official injury report listed him as out due to an illness. Olave was able to finish the Saints’ Week 17 win over the Tennessee Titans, logging eight catches for 119 yards and a touchdown.
Olave will finish his fourth season with the Saints with a career-best 1,163 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The Ohio State product missed the final nine games of the 2024 NFL season after suffering multiple concussions. Olave admitted last month the head injuries forced him to contemplate retirement. He told reporters after the Saints’ fourth win in a row this past weekend that playing all 17 games was one of his ‘main goals’ for this season.
Olave is eligible for a contract extension this offseason and set to make more than $15 million next season after the Saints picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. He could be an unrestricted free agent following the 2026 season if he and New Orleans don’t come to terms on a new deal.
