Chris Olave nearly gave the entire New Orleans building a heart attack on Day 6 of training camp.
Fresh off signing a massive four-year, $132 million extension that made him one of the NFL’s highest-paid receivers, Olave sparked immediate panic when he limped off the field alongside his trainer.
It turned out to be a false alarm. Olave walked off under his own power, and the issue was quickly chalked up to standard Louisiana heat and humidity, as NFL Network’s Erin Summers reported.
He’s expected right back on the field for their next padded session on Day 7.
Chris Olave has a history of injuries
GettyNew Orleans Saints receive a big injury scare on Day 6 of training camp in a star wide receiver they just signed.
The panic of Olave’s injury was real, though. He’s coming off a career-best 100-catch season, and he proved his durability playing 16 games. But his medical history isn’t something
However, his history with concussions and a blood clot issue in his lung that shut him down last winter, any sudden exit with a trainer carries massive weight — especially with $90 million guaranteed now attached to his name.
It isn’t just that Olave is the team’s best receiver. He is also the safety net Tyler Shough needs to keep the drives alive, and the explosive threat in Moore’s motion-heavy schemes.
Last season, he led the NFL with seven third-down touchdown catches and finished second in the NFC with 30 third-down conversions.
Olave also accounted for 29.4% of the Saints’ entire target share in 2025, commanding 156 targets—the 5th-most in the NFL.
He finished 7th in the league with 1,163 receiving yards and caught 9 touchdowns, making him just the second player in Saints history alongside Michael Thomas to put up a 100-catch season.
Olave’s Playing for the Chip on Their Shoulder
GettyNew Orleans Saints receive a big injury scare on Day 6 of training camp in a star wide receiver they just signed.
The Saints’ playoff hype has taken a total nose-dive since Kellen Moore’s offensive takeover. In an NFC South where Tampa Bay and Atlanta hog all the national headlines, New Orleans is practically treated as an afterthought in the playoff picture.
Handing the keys to a second-year quarterback in Tyler Shough only adds fuel to the fire. Put it all together, and the Saints enter this season with a massive chip on their shoulder—and Chris Olave isn’t hiding it.
“We’re just building man. I feel like we’ve got the right guys, a lot of young guys in New Orleans. A lot of new players that’s coming in with a chip on our shoulders,” the wideout said on the Patt McAfee Show.
“So I’m super excited for this year. We built a lot of momentum at the end of last season and we’re gonna be ready for week one”
That chip is going to have to do some serious heavy lifting. Ja’Lynn Polk’s<!–TgQPHd|||[["https://www.espn.com.sg/nfl/story/_/id/49515016/saints-place-wr-jalynn-polk-24-reserve-retired-list",null,null,[null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,[{"1218":[17]}]],17,null,"Saints place WR Ja'Lynn Polk, 24, on reserve/retired list – ESPN","The Saints acquired Polk and a 2028 seventh-round pick from the New England Patriots last September in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. Polk never played for the Saints as he was traded after the Patriots had placed him on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. This season, Polk was expected to compete for a roster spot in a crowded Saints wide receiver room that includes three new receivers who were drafted this year, including first-round pick Jordyn Tyson. Polk will retire having played one season for the Patriots, who selected him with the 37th pick of the 2024 NFL draft. He will finish his NFL career with 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games.","https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?qu003dtbn:ANd9GcTjFWUKF8ISiRX7qAG-8_YV6_e3EnNOiD-iBC8YO_CdQxBGZnY5iMYC96D1LWHe0agQ2cML12dalxhmPww","ESPN Singapore","https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/faviconV2?urlu003dhttps://www.espn.com.sgu0026clientu003dAIMu0026sizeu003d128u0026typeu003dFAVICONu0026fallback_optsu003dTYPE,SIZE,URL",[[1786032103840924,107768372,4062226888],null,null,null,null,[[2,0,0,11]]],null,"2fa4459e-2c1a-4991-81a2-9b6e28751beb"]]–> unexpected retirement put the receiving corps in a precarious position
There’s Olave, of course, but behind him it’s a total youth movement.
First-round pick Jordyn Tyson has the explosive, top-ten talent to manage the offense, but his own medical record makes him a risky bet to play 17 games.
Beyond him, the Saints are left rolling the dice on raw, unproven depth in Devaughn Vele and Bub Means.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post New Orleans Saints Get Major Scare on $132M Star Receiver on Day 6 appeared first on HEAVY.