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New Orleans Saints star wide receiver Chris Olave will not play in Week 18 after a blood clot was reportedly found in his lung.
The clot was caught early and Olave was expected to be released from the hospital Thursday, according to Saints reporter Nick Underhill. Olave has no previous history of blood clots and is expected to be sidelined for about a month, according to ESPN.
Olave, 25, has been fantastic this season for Saints. The former Ohio State star had 100 catches for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games.
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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) walks the sideline during the second half at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 5, 2025. (Stephen Lew/Imagn Images)
Olave’s 100 receptions and 1,163 yards are the sixth most and seventh most in the NFL, respectively.
The Saints enter their Week 18 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on a four-game winning streak, with Olave’s connection with rookie quarterback Tyler Shoough being a big reason for that. During the streak, Olave had 27 catches for 382 yards and four touchdowns.
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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave hauls in a pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Olave’s absence also has playoff implications for the NFC South. The Carolina Panthers, who play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, can clinch the NFC South with a win over the Buccaneers or if the Saints lose to the Atlanta Falcons.
If the Panthers win on Saturday, then the Saints-Falcons game has no playoff implications.
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If the Buccaneers win on Saturday, then the Saints-Falcons matchup will decide who wins the NFC South. If the Saints lose, the Buccaneers advance, but if the Saints beat the Falcons, the Panthers will win the division.
The Buccaneers and Panthers play on Saturday at 4:30 PM ET, while the Saints play the Falcons at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday.
