Chris Olave Avoids Serious Injury After Saints Practice Scare

New Orleans Saints star wide receiver Chris Olave exited Tuesday's practice early following a hard landing on a deep pass attempt, though head coach Kellen Moore confirmed the injury is not serious.

Olave was slow to rise after attempting to haul in a long pass near the conclusion of the session. He walked off the field under his own power alongside athletic trainers and did not return for the final few plays of practice.

The incident created immediate concern for New Orleans, which signed Olave to a lucrative multi-year contract extension on July 30 following a 2025 campaign in which he posted career highs with 100 receptions, 1,163 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns.

The wide receiver room is already thin, as rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson remains sidelined with a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for the start of the 2026 regular season.

Head coach Kellen Moore addressed reporters following the session to clarify Olave's condition and relieve concern over his star wideout's status.

"Chris Olave landed hard on his back," said Kellen Moore, Head Coach of the New Orleans Saints. "He got the wind knocked out of him."

When questioned about potential secondary evaluations or lingering issues, Moore confirmed that the team's medical staff had raised no further concerns regarding Olave's status.

The Saints had previously participated in joint practices with the Dallas Cowboys in California, where secondary members praised Olave's on-field performance against competitive coverage.

"I think it's great," said Brian Schottenheimer, Offensive Coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. "I thought he's going up against another elite receiver and I thought he was in some tight coverages. I think, I know I saw Chris make one incredible catch on him, but Caleb's gonna battle and I thought all in all he did pretty well."

Members of the Cowboys defensive unit also highlighted the challenge of competing against the Saints' top receiving option during the joint sessions.

"Bro, it's amazing. It's amazing," said Jalen Thompson, Safety for the Dallas Cowboys. "He's literally taking steps every single day.

He's elevated. He's going against some of the best guys in the NFL right now. So just to see a guy like that step up and be a leader as a rookie, it's a great thing."

Former Saints player and radio analyst Deuce McAllister evaluated the team's work during joint practices and noted the strong rapport between Olave and second-year quarterback Tyler Shough, despite frequent scuffles during team drills.

"Every time he was targeted it was a catch. ... they were cooking," said Deuce McAllister, Analyst for WWL Radio. "It was a good practice. If you're disappointed in anything it was just the amount of pushing, shoving, punching, fighting, et cetera.

I'm sure our guys got some stuff in there as well. ... That would be the only negative. But I did think it was some good work for us, to be able to come out here and get some stuff done, but, you know, you never want to have it where it's every other snap, that's what you're having to deal with, because you're not able to get good work in if that's the case."

The Saints scheduled a short practice on Wednesday before another joint session against the Rams, leading into their Week 2 preseason matchup at SoFi Stadium before closing out the preseason on August 28 against Dallas.