7:25pm: Olave has since been released from hospital, per a team announcement. He took to social media Sunday afternoon to relay he is OK, another positive sign. Still, a fourth concussion in less than three full seasons of play certainly represents a worrying development for team and player.
2:41pm: Chris Olave has already missed one game this season with a concussion, and he is now facing the same injury. The third-year Saints wideout took a hard during Sunday’s contest against the Panthers. 
Olave was the target of an incomplete pass over the middle, and he took a hard hit from safety Xavier Woods. Olave was ultimately placed on a backboard and carted off the field before quickly being ruled out with another concussion. The 24-year-old has since been taken to a local hospital, and the CBS broadcast notes he is alert with strong vital signs (h/t team reporter Erin Summers).
During his rookie season, the 2022 No. 11 pick suffered a concussion; he also missed time for that reason last year. In Week 6 of the current campaign, Olave suffered another concussion and was held out of the lineup for the following contest. Now, his time out of the lineup for brain injuries will continue with a Week 10 absence also being likely.
Olave had a strong showing in his debut season, topping 1,000 yards and averaging 14.5 yards per reception. Last season, the Ohio State product took a step forward with a statline of 87-1,123-5. That led to high expectations entering 2024, and Olave has served as New Orleans’ top receiver when healthy. His availability will be key moving forward since Rashid Shaheed is out for the year, an injury which prompted the recent signing of Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Upon returning from his first 2024 concussion, Olave said he gave thought to wearing a Guardian Cap, which he ultimately did not. It will be interesting to see if that approach changes once he is back on the field. In any case, the 2-6 Saints will welcome his return in their bid to return to postseason contention.
Michael Thomas was trashing Derek Carr on Twitter for this play.
The Michael Thomas “to do” list for Sundays probably looks like this:
Take medication
Walk the dog
Confirm appointment with psychiatrist
Go on social media to troll
Take more medication
It does speak volumes that with teams needing/looking for/begging for receiving help, he’s still unemployed.
Thomas is bitter because he is completely washed. It is extremely telling, with all the WR needy teams, that no one has signed him for a minimum deal.
The play happened pretty fast. The ball placement wasn’t great, but Xavier Woods hit Olave high from Olave’s blind side, too. That’s an illegal hit and it resulted in a penalty.
It’s really unfortunate. The most important thing is Olave seems to be doing better. Hopefully he’s okay and there are no long-term ramifications.
To be fair Michael Thomas is a clown but he is absolutely right that was an idiotic throw by Carr
The pass was high but isn’t it the OC who draws up the pass routes he wants the receivers to run?
And Carr responded with class like he always does. The opposite was of Thomas.
Olave has been discharged from hospital and returned to New Orleans with the rest of the Saints. And yes, Carr is having to answer questions about the play that got Olave the concussion.
It’s only going to be a matter of time before the NFL eliminates the safety position.
It’s nearly impossible to play the spot any more without nearly killing someone. It’s how they do their job.
But the NFL being the NFL will come up with some kind of “dynamic” safety position to help reduce injuries.
4 in 3 years is as serious of an issue as Tua’s concussion history.
For whatever its worth.
Like no other QB ever made a similar throw? It happens every game, but the safety’s kill shot simply didn’t connect. You need to have those kinds of routes in your passing game in order to open up other things on offense, but that’s where you run the guys who aren’t key contributors like Olave.
Thomas is Antonio Brown level dumb with those posts.