Saints' Chris Olave Reportedly Has Medical Issue, Will Miss Falcons Game

The New Orleans Saints will be without one of their top offensive players for Sunday's season finale against the Atlanta Falcons.

Per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, Saints wide receiver Chris Olave will miss Sunday's game following the discovery of a blood clot in his lung. Underhill added that Olave is being discharged from the hospital on Thursday and is "doing well."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Olave is now "expected to be sidelined for about a month before being ready for the offseason program." The 25-year-old reportedly has no prior history of blood clots.

The Saints are riding a four-game winning streak into their final game of the regular season, and Olave was a big reason for their success. He's caught touchdown passes in three straight games while surpassing the 100-yard mark in his last two outings.

While his 2025 season was cut short, it will go down as the best year of Olave's young career. In 16 games, he recorded career highs across the board with 100 catches, 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. His presence greatly benefited rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who is expected to be one of the frontrunners for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The Saints appeared to be on their way to the worst record in the league when they started the year with a 2-10 record, but their recent streak has fueled optimism that things are turning around under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. While the team will miss the playoffs for a fifth straight year, there have been signs that the future is bright in New Orleans.

While Olave is sidelined on Sunday, Shough is likely to rely on tight end Juwan Johnson in the passing attack as the Saints try to end the year on a high note.