The 2025 NFL season will officially come to an end for the New Orleans Saints after they take on the division rival Atlanta Falcons on the road in Week 18 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the team’s best outcome being to finish with a record of 7-10 with a win in Atlanta.
Although the 2025 campaign was a disappointment, to say the least, there were some promising developments, like the emergence of promising young quarterback Tyler Shough, who could be their new franchise player under center, and star wide receiver Chris Olave having another stellar season.
However, the season does come to an end on a sour note for Olave, who won’t play in the season finale on Sunday after a scary blood clot issue was discovered.
Chris Olave’s Season Ends Due to Health Scare
GettyChris Olave #12 of the New Orleans Saints
According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, a blood clot was detected in Olave’s lung ahead of Week 18. Fortunately, it was caught early enough that no serious harm occurred, and he’s expected to make a full recovery, via Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team.
After playing in only eight games during the 2024 NFL season, Olave bounced back with a vengeance this season while building some chemistry with his new rookie quarterback.
Even though he won’t play in the final regular-season game for the Saints, Olave will finish the 2025 campaign with career-high numbers in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,163) and touchdowns (9).
When healthy, Olave has proven to be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and could take his game to another level entirely if Shough continues to make strides while locking down the starting job for New Orleans.
Chris Olave Highlights During 2025 NFL Season
During the 2025 NFL season, Olave was a weekly highlight reel, with some spectacular catches, which led to his best professional season to date.
Despite the team’s issues at the quarterback position to start the season, Olave was able to get on the same page with Shough in the final stretch, which has created some optimism about what the future holds for him and their new quarterback moving forward.
Obviously, the blood clot issue is concerning and will be something to monitor for the rest of his NFL career, but if he can return to health over the course of the offseason, the sky is the limit in New Orleans as the team’s No. 1 option in the passing game.
Olave took to his Instagram account with a picture of himself in a hospital bed, as he seems to be in good spirits and thankful the blood clot issue was caught early enough to prevent anything serious from transpiring.
“Thank you God for everything! Right where I need to be, life is full of unexpected twists & turns & I’m grateful to experience it. Chin up, chest out & keep it pushin. I don’t want ya sympathy just talk to God for me. Bounce back otw!”
Despite missing the season finale on Sunday, Olave was happy to have played 17 games, a career high, via ESPN.
“I think it’s going to be my first time in my NFL career playing 17,” Olave said. “It means a lot, man. One of my goals, one of my main goals for this year is trying to play all 17. Playing through injuries, playing through all that. So I’m super grateful, like I said. Got to give all glory to God to be in this position. We just got to finish next week.”
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