New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has been diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung and will miss Sunday’s season finale against the Atlanta Falcons, according to multiple reports.
The issue was detected early, and Olave was discharged from the hospital on Thursday. While the prognosis is positive, the blood clot will sideline him this weekend, marking the first game he will miss this season.
NewOrleans.Football was the first to report the news, with ESPN later noting Olave is expected to recover in approximately one month.
Olave was held out of practice Wednesday due to what the team initially described as an illness. The 25-year-old had also been managing a back injury for much of the past month but continued to produce at a high level. In his final two games, he posted 148 and 119 receiving yards, scoring three touchdowns over that stretch.
The former first-round pick was in the midst of a career year. After contemplating retirement following concussion issues last season, Olave rebounded in 2025 with 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns.
Following last weekend’s win over the Tennessee Titans, Olave said one of his primary goals was to play all 17 games for the first time in his career.
“It means a lot,” Olave said.
Instead, he’ll finish the season with 16 games played, tying his previous career high. In this case, however, his health takes precedence.
Olave joins a growing list of professional athletes who have dealt with blood clots. New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore was diagnosed with multiple clots prior to the 2024 season, causing him to miss significant time, though he returned to play 16 games this year. Los Angeles Rams tackle Alaric Jackson and Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith have also managed the condition and gone on to sustain long careers.
In the NBA, players such as Victor Wembanyama, Ausar Thompson, Damian Lillard, and Chris Bosh have dealt with blood clots, with Bosh ultimately forced into medical retirement.
According to reports, Olave’s case is not expected to be as severe. The Saints’ receiver should be cleared in time to participate in the team’s offseason program.
