Chris Olave’s season hit its first real bump this week, but the Saints got at least a small dose of good news ahead of a tough Week 5 matchup.
Olave was limited in Thursday’s practice because of a foot injury, according to Nick Underhill. That’s a step forward from Wednesday, when the receiver did not practice at all. For a player who has had his share of injury trouble in the past, any movement in the right direction matters.
When he has been on the field this season, Olave has been as productive as ever. Through four weeks, he has a league-high 48 targets, turning those into 35 catches for 491 yards. Tyler Shough has leaned on him heavily, and Olave has looked like one of the most reliable pass catchers in the league.
The timing of the injury concern is far from ideal for New Orleans. The Saints are headed into a meeting with the 4-0 Vikings, one of only three unbeaten teams left. They’re also trying to bounce back from a rough 45-24 loss to the Falcons on Monday night, a game where the defense was undone in part by the injuries that kept several players out.
That loss exposed how thin things can get for New Orleans when the injury list grows. The offense has flashed at times this year, but the defense took the brunt of the damage against Atlanta.
There is at least a chance for some help on that side of the ball in Week 5. Kaden Ellis and Anfernee Jennings both missed the last game and remain out, but Carl Granderson is nearing a return. If the Saints can get more of their pass-rushing pieces back, they’ll give themselves a better shot against Minnesota.
In Other News...
Kellen Moore Is Already Feeling Heat As Vikings Loom
The Saints have little time to sit with a lopsided loss that exposed familiar trouble spots, especially on the ground and in the flow of the offense. Kellen Moore said the teams execution was poor and that changes are needed, an admission that fits the frustration around a game in which the rushing attack never got going and the playcalling drew questions.
Practice has reportedly looked better in terms of effort, which at least gives New Orleans something to lean on as it resets for Minnesota. The Vikings are next on the schedule, and after a game like this one, the Saints need more than cleaner work during the week - they need it to show up before the problems start stacking again. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Suddenly Have One Offensive Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Saints loss to the Falcons was already frustrating enough, but the attention quickly shifted to the injury report after practice, where Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara both were out. Olave was simply resting, while Kamara was dealing with back soreness, a reminder that even on a day when the offense moved the ball, the availability of its most reliable playmakers can change the conversation fast.
Kamara still found the end zone twice in the game despite limited carries, and Olave turned in another productive outing with eight catches for 116 yards. Still, for a New Orleans offense trying to find steadier footing, any issue involving either player carries obvious weight, especially with the Saints already looking for answers after the setback in Atlanta. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Suddenly Have A Superdome Problem Fans Wont Ignore
The Superdome has always been the Saints stage, the place where noise has traveled in their favor and where visiting teams were supposed to feel the pressure. Lately, though, the building has felt different. A stretch of disappointing home losses has taken some of the shine off one of the leagues most recognizable venues, and the frustration has started to show in the stands, where fans made their feelings known with boos during a recent home game.
For the Saints, the issue is bigger than one bad afternoon. Home field advantage is supposed to be a difference-maker in New Orleans, but recent results have made it harder to count on the Superdome as a weekly boost. The next few games now carry extra weight, not just for the standings but for the mood around the team, because getting back on track at home may be the clearest way to pull the fan base back in. [Read more 🡒]