This has been a rough season for the New Orleans Saints, and one reason why is because they’ve been without promising receiver Chris Olave for half the season. The third-year wideout was hoping to take a leap this season, but he has instead spent weeks on injured reserve after suffering multiple concussions.
Olave sustained a concussion in Week 6 and another in Week 9. After two concussions in month, plus the fact that Olave has been dealing with concussions since his time at Ohio State, the team decided to place him on injured reserve, giving him the opportunity to have important meetings with specialists.
While it seemed like Olave’s season could be done, he recently had a major development as the team prepares for Week 16. The young wide receiver was cleared to return by a specialist, and on Thursday, the Saints opened Olave’s 21-day practice window.
Chris Olave returned to practice for Saints
Olave only practiced in a limited capacity, but it’s a big step in the right direction for someone who hasn’t been on the field since November 3. While it’s great that he’s back on the field, it’s still no guarantee that he’ll play in a game again this season.
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi made it clear that Olave is unlikely to play in the Week 16 Monday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers, saying that’d be a little aggressive. However, the door is seemingly still open for the final two games of the regular season, so there’s a chance fans get to see Olave in action again.
Whatever happens this year, it’s great that Olave is healthy and has the opportunity to continue his promising career. In eight games this season, he caught 32-of-44 targets for 400 yards and one touchdown. Whenever he gets back on the field, fans will be excited to see what he does next.