In Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was ruled out early due to a concussion. Olave sustained the injury in the first quarter after being hit in the helmet while catching a pass from rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler. As Olave fell, he lost control of the ball, which was then recovered and returned 58 yards for a touchdown by Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Following the hit, Olave was evaluated by athletic trainers and initially walked off the field before jogging to the sideline. He entered the medical tent to be assessed for a concussion and was eventually taken to the locker room. Shortly after, it was confirmed that Olave would not return for the rest of the game due to the severity of his injury.
In the same game, the Buccaneers also lost a key player, starting cornerback Jamel Dean, who exited with a hamstring injury. Dean was hurt while tackling Saints wide receiver Bub Means, with his legs splitting awkwardly beneath him. Dean’s injury occurred toward the end of the first quarter, and he was replaced by rookie Tyrek Funderburk, making his defensive debut.
Olave has a history of concussions, including one last year in a game against the Atlanta Falcons, though he managed to play the following week. In 2022, he also missed a game after being knocked unconscious against the Cincinnati Bengals, following a previous concussion the week prior in a game versus the Seattle Seahawks.
Looking ahead, the Saints will face the Denver Broncos in a Thursday night matchup for Week 7. Olave’s status for this upcoming game remains uncertain as he enters concussion protocol once again.
