what happened to chris olave

Chris Olave is currently out after doctors found a blood clot in his lung, which will keep him from playing in the New Orleans Saints’ Week 18 regular- season finale but he is expected to make a full recovery within about a month.

Quick Scoop: What Happened

• New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was hospitalized this week after team doctors detected a blood clot in one of his lungs, initially appearing on the injury report as an “illness” when he missed practice.

• The clot was caught early, and multiple reports say he’s doing well, has been discharged, and is expected to fully recover and be ready for the team’s offseason program in the spring.

• Because of this, he will miss the Saints’ Week 18 game against the Atlanta Falcons, which ends what had been a career-best season for him.

How Serious Is It?

• Blood clots in the lung (pulmonary emboli) are treated very carefully, but in Olave’s case the early detection and quick treatment are being framed as very positive signs by the team and national outlets.

• Reports consistently indicate he has no prior history of blood clots and that the medical expectation is about a month of recovery time before resuming normal football activities.

Recent Injury Context

• This health scare comes after a tough 2024 season in which Olave missed significant time because of concussions and even admitted he briefly contemplated retirement due to repeated head injuries.

• In 2025, before the clot issue, he bounced back in a big way: 100 catches, 1,163 yards, and nine touchdowns, all personal highs that helped drive a late-season surge for the Saints’ offense.

What It Means Going Forward

• For the short term, the Saints lose their top receiver for a must-watch Week 18 matchup, which is a major blow given how central he has been to the passing game down the stretch.

• Longer term, he is expected to return for offseason work and heads into 2026 on his fifth-year option and in position for a major contract once his health is fully cleared.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.