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Katherine Terrell, ESPN writer
METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave will consult with specialists after suffering his second concussion of the season.
Olave did not practice Wednesday after taking a hit to the head from Carolina Panthers safety Xavier Woods while trying to catch a pass on Sunday. Olave fell to the ground after the hit and was carried out of the stadium on a backboard to be evaluated at a local hospital in Charlotte. He was released before the end of Sunday’s game and flew home with the team.
“Thank God. Always keep your faith and never let people tell you what you can and cannot do.” Olave published on his Instagram account on Tuesday. “What’s going on in the world is so much worse than anything you’re going through, so be grateful for what you have before it’s taken away from you. Hard times never last…”
Interim head coach Darren Rizzi, who took over that role after Dennis Allen was fired following Sunday’s loss, said Wednesday that the team is taking things “day by day” to make sure Olave does the best for your health.
“You want to walk through the process and make sure you make the best decision for Chris Olave, taking football out of that equation… What’s the best decision for the person?” Rizzi said. “So, my conversations with him and our medical staff have been thorough and his family will be thorough with the process. I support him completely. I have five children of my own, and if that were one of my children, I would want to do the same.”
Olave has had four confirmed concussions in his NFL career. In addition to the one earlier this season against the Buccaneers, he had one in his rookie season and another last year. He was also evaluated for a concussion against the Chargers, but remained in the game.
He changed his helmet to a model considered safer after suffering his first concussion this season, but decided not to wear a Guardian cap during games.
Rizzi said he is not worried about the football aspect and wants Olave to take all the time he needs before making any kind of decision on the matter.
“We’re more concerned about Chris Olave as a person and making sure everything is OK,” Rizzi said. “Then once he goes through that process, we’ll bring him back to football to see how he fits in. When I say day by day, it sounds like coach language. He’s seeing some specialists and we’ll go through that process. “
Olave’s brother, Josh Olave, responded to a fan question about X on Sunday by asking if he and his brother needed to talk about whether it was worth continuing to play.
“It’s not worth it in Nola, I tell you,” Josh Olave responded at the time.
Rizzi said nothing is off the table when it comes to a decision about Chris Olave’s future as a football player, but repeated that Olave is simply taking things day by day right now.
“I think it’s really smart in the process that they’re doing with the medical staff, not only in our building, but also outside of our building, some specialists,” Rizzi said. “However, I don’t think we’re there yet. Everything is on the table.”
