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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has been released from the hospital after suffering his second concussion of the season


New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has been released from the hospital after suffering his second concussion of the season



CNN

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has been released from the hospital after suffering a concussion during the team's game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte on Sunday.

Olave will return with the team to New Orleans after the 23-22 loss to the Panthers, the team said in a statement.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen said after the game that all of Olave's medical exams came back good and that he was back with the team.

Olave thanked fans for their support and that he will be okay in a post to X.

Midway through the first quarter, Olave attempted to catch a pass across the middle of the field when he was hit in the head and neck area. He lay motionless on the floor while medical staff stabilized him and placed him on a backboard. He showed movement in his arms and feet as he was carried off the field to the delight of players from both teams and fans at Bank of America Stadium.

The Saints immediately ruled Olave out of the game, adding that he was able to move all extremities and was undergoing a medical evaluation at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center.

Panthers safety Xavier Woods was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the game.

Allen added that his team struggled to recover after Olave's injury.

“I think sometimes you come back emotionally from things like that,” Allen said. “When you see a guy go down – for the second time in a season. I think it’s kind of hard to come back from that.”

Allen had no further updates on Olave at this time.

Olave, who was drafted by the Saints in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, has since suffered multiple head injuries dating back to his college career.

The 24-year-old is now in the NFL's concussion protocol for the second time this season. Olave missed one game after suffering a concussion on October 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Before his return last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, Olave switched to a different model of helmet and was seen wearing a Guardian cap on his helmet during practice.

Olave, who played without the Guardian cap, was evaluated for a concussion in the game against the Chargers but was later cleared to return.

He told reporters before this week's game that he was “still thinking about” wearing a protective cap in the game, but said his new helmet offered better protection against concussions.

“The hit I took in the game doesn’t really hurt as much as it did with the other helmet,” Olave said Thursday. “After I changed the helmet, I had the feeling that I could cope well without the protective cap.”

In seven games this year, Olave has 387 yards receiving and scored one touchdown.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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