After a 2-10 start to the 2025 season, the New Orleans Saints have found something they can build off for the future. The team has won four consecutive games and is playing a high-level of football.
That coincides with rookie QB Tyler Shough playing well in December. His favorite target this season has been talented WR Chris Olave. The QB/WR duo was set to play one final game together in the 2025 season. Unfortunately, Olave had a somewhat serious health issue. He was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung. Chris Olave will miss Week 18 for the Saints.
Saints’ Chris Olave is in good spirits after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung
Saints WR Chris Olave will be out Sunday after doctors discovered a blood clot in his lung, as @nick_underhill reported. Olave has no prior history with blood clots, and he now is expected to be sidelined for about a month before being ready for the off-season program. pic.twitter.com/WLDrWuknjN
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 1, 2026
On Wednesday, Chris Olave appeared on the Saints’ injury report due to an illness. After further testing, doctors found a blood clot in Olave’s lung. He is expected to fully recover and be ready in one month. That means Chris Olave will be unavailable in Week 18 vs. the Falcons. The 25-year-old falls one game short of the goal he set out for during the season.
In Week 17, the Saints beat the Titans 34-26. Chris Olave had eight catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. After the game, Olave spoke to the media. He mentioned his season-long goal of playing in all 17 games for New Orleans. Chris Olave was on track to make that happen in 2025. However, he’s been ruled out in Week 18 due to a blood clot doctors found in his lung.
GREAT BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO:#Saints QB Tyler Shough and Chris Olave have a great relationship.
“We gotta throw the ball and win the game“
“Playing a lot of man, when we get it go f*cking run by them”
Shough proceeds to throw a dime for a TD to Olave.pic.twitter.com/clEoJxrFG4
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 31, 2025
Despite not playing in the team’s 17th game, Chris Olave still had a career-best season with the Saints. His 100 catches for 1,163 yards and nine receiving touchdowns are all new career-highs. In his last three games, he had 24 catches for 352 yards and four touchdowns. With the stellar season in 2025, Chris Olave is primed for a contract extension with the Saints. This past offseaosn, the young WR contemplated retirement after battling several concussions. He responded with the best season of his NFL career.
