New Orleans Saints minicamp is officially underway. However, all it took was one day of practice for the Who Dat Nation to get some news that they might not like to hear: Chris Olave will be limited during minicamp.
Don't panic just yet though, because per NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill, it's the same kind of process he went through during OTAs. No new injury or anything has popped up, but it's all part of the recovery process after you get a blood clot in your lung. That means that he'll be doing walkthroughs and all that jazz, but when it comes to team activities, he'll be limited. Basically he'll just be avoiding any contact-related drills until he receives the go-ahead, which currently isn't expected until the 29th.
Unfortunately for Saints fans, Olave isn't the only offensive New Orleans player that is expected to be limited during mandatory minicamp. Both running back Alvin Kamara and first-round pick Jordyn Tyson are also expected to be limited. It's unclear what might be hampering Kamara, but for Tyson, the team is just being extra cautious with his hamstring injury from the end of the college season.
The Saints aren't scrambling; they're just being smart
Although worrisome, the limitations to the star players are really a non-story. Yes, minicamp is a ramp-up from the OTAs, but not as much as some expect. The entire team is there now, but that's only because they'll be fined if they don't show up. There's also still a prohibition on full contact and pads until training camp. So while teams can simulate live situations, they still can't get into the swing of things just yet.
Many teams are very careful during this time of year, and the Saints aren't the only ones to rest/limit their star players. Some teams, such as the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks, have even cancelled minicamp altogether. So again, no real reason to panic here if you're a member of the Who Dat Nation. If the players are still limited come training camp, then it might be time to sound the alarm.
For that very reason, Olave, Kamara, and Tyson will all be names to watch when that training camp actually starts. Actually in Metairie for a good chunk of it this time, the Black and Gold will open their training camp starting on July 28. Additionally, they're expected to hold multiple joint practices.
Add us as a preferred source on Google