New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave experienced a terrifying moment on Sunday when he was left motionless on the turf after a hard hit to the head. The incident occurred during the Saints’ game against the Carolina Panthers, and Olave’s brother, Josh, took to social media afterward to criticize the organization.
Olave was attempting to catch a pass from quarterback Derek Carr over the middle of the field when he was sandwiched between Panthers defenders Mike Jackson and Xavier Woods. The impact left Olave on the ground, and he had to be stretchered off the field before being transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. It was a distressing scene for both teammates and fans, especially given that this marked Olave’s second concussion of the season.
After the game, a fan on social media questioned whether continuing to play in New Orleans was worth it for Olave, given the risks. Josh Olave responded bluntly, saying, “Ain’t worth it in Nola, I’ll tell you that.” His comments expressed frustration with the Saints organization and highlighted concerns about Chris’s safety after suffering multiple head injuries.
This latest concussion was the fourth of Chris Olave’s professional career, which is now in its third season. The repeated head trauma has raised concerns about his long-term health and safety, and Josh’s comments made it clear that the family is concerned about his well-being.
Josh also endorsed criticism of Derek Carr, the Saints quarterback, from former New Orleans receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas, who played one season with Carr, did not hold back in his criticism following Olave’s injury. He wrote on social media, “Dude tried to lie and say I was jealous of them making Chris WR1 whole time he can’t even get a decent ball. He needs his a** whooped.” Josh Olave re-posted Thomas’s message with a “100” emoji, indicating his agreement.
Thomas did not stop there. He posted additional messages criticizing Carr, saying, “Dude scary and panic and just throw the ball. Get him the f out of here he so a**.” In another post, Thomas wrote, “They fired all them coaches trying to cover his flaws up, he still doing the same s**t.” Thomas’s anger at Carr seemed to stem from what he perceived as poor decision-making and subpar passing, which he believed put receivers like Olave at risk.
Derek Carr addressed the situation in a postgame press conference, expressing his concern for Olave and his confusion about Thomas’s animosity. “I feel sick to my stomach whenever one of my receivers gets injured,” Carr said. “I’ve had so many teammates over the years, and he’s like the one dude that didn’t get along with me. And I don’t know what I did to him.
“I don’t know why he feels that way. I’m sorry for whatever he’s dealing with to make him feel like he’s got to do that. I don’t know. But he’s never called me during any of this. My phone number has never changed. I’ve in fact called him on different occasions. Just to try. And sometimes you can try as hard as you want, and it just doesn’t work out. And that’s OK, so I don’t know why he feels any type of way.”
Michael Thomas, currently a free agent, spent eight years with the Saints before sustaining a season-ending injury in November 2023 after catching a pass from Carr. In January, he publicly claimed that he was “set up by a bad ball,” reflecting his ongoing grievances with his former quarterback.
The drama surrounding the Saints continued on Monday as head coach Dennis Allen was fired following the team’s loss to the Panthers, who currently have the league’s worst record. The Saints’ struggles on the field have been compounded by internal turmoil, and Allen’s dismissal was another chapter in what has been a turbulent season.
Amidst the turmoil, Josh Olave provided an update on his brother, sharing that Chris was “up and active” following his hospital visit. Chris Olave was discharged from the hospital and cleared to travel back to New Orleans with his team. Later, Chris took to social media to thank fans for their support, writing, “Thank God. Preciate all the love & prayers. Ima be aight.”
Olave will now enter the NFL’s concussion protocol ahead of the Saints’ upcoming game against the Atlanta Falcons.
His status for next week’s game remains uncertain, and the Saints will be closely monitoring his recovery. With the team struggling and their star receiver’s health in question, the Saints face significant challenges as they prepare for the remainder of the season.
