In the showdown of the sluggish starters, the Saints may have scored. But they took a real hit during their week 9 game against the Panthers. And no, it wasn’t the scoreboard doing the damage. It was the sight of their star WR Chris Olave, being carted off the field after a brutal hit to the head. Yup, it was that serious!

Let’s talk about the hit—courtesy of Panthers’ safety Xavier Woods, who’s no stranger to penalties. In fact, this was his ninth unnecessary roughness penalty since 2017, which is more than anyone else in the league. And who’s at the end of it? Olave—a player with a known history of concussions. That’s rough. 

But the worst news was when the Saints later confirmed Olave’s concussion. They said that the hit has ruled him out for the rest of the game. “He has movement in all extremities and is being evaluated at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center,” the team shared. It’s a cautious approach and one that leaves Saints Nation anxiously awaiting updates.

Those who were present at the stadium or were watching it live saw Olave lying motionless on the turf. And, obviously, it did not take much from his teammates to take a knee around him. Amidst all that chaos, even the Panthers players seemed shaken by the sight.

But as he was lifted onto the cart, the announcers noted some reassuring news: Olave was moving his hands and arms. Footage of the hit paints a rough picture. Olave collided with not one, but two Panthers defenders, and he went down hard, not moving.

It’s the kind of impact that leaves fans uneasy, especially with his previous head injury this season. Adding another concussion to Olave’s already growing list could mean serious repercussions. But here’s hoping it’s not as bad as it looked. And there might be something in that hope.

Yeah, you read that right! Reports say Olave has movement in all extremities—huge news considering how he went down.

What does Chris Olave’s absence mean for the Saints?

Losing Chris Olave is a tough break for the Saints, but there’s a glimmer of hope here. Remember, this team has weathered similar storms before. They’ve dealt with injuries, and they know how to keep pushing through.

Let’s not forget when Olave missed time in his rookie season after a week 5 concussion and then got sidelined again in week 12 against the Falcons. And just last week, he was out due to a concussion from week 6! If this latest hit turns out to be another concussion, it would make for a challenging three-week stretch for him.

That’s not just tough for Olave; it shakes up the entire offense, especially with Rashid Shaheed already sidelined for the season after knee surgery. You’ve got to wonder: how much more can this team endure?

The Saints are going to have to do some serious soul-searching to figure out what comes next. As for Olave, you can bet they’ll conduct all the necessary evaluations to see when he can return. Best-case scenario? Olave just needs some time to clear protocols and can get back on the field. Worst case? It could be something more serious than we’re hoping for.