The Saints' Chris Olave landed on his backboard and suffered a concussion

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave left Bank of America Stadium on a backboard and was taken to a local hospital after suffering his second concussion of the season on Sunday.

The Saints said Olave had movement in all his extremities.

Olave, in his third straight game this season, was hit in the head and neck area while attempting to intercept a high pass over the middle of the field from Saints quarterback Derek Carr. Olave landed on the ground and did not get up as the officials threw several flags for unnecessary roughness. Players and coaches from both teams gathered around Olave as medical staff worked to strap him to a backboard and load him onto the cart.

Olave was able to move his feet and raise his hands to high-five some of his teammates before being run off the field, strapped to the backboard.

Olave has now been logged for a concussion for the fourth time in his three-year career and has missed two games due to a concussion. He suffered a concussion in Week 5 of his 2022 rookie season and missed the following game. He was forced to play in a Week 12 game against the Atlanta Falcons last year because of a concussion, but played the following week.

He recently missed the Saints' Thursday Night Football game against the Denver Bronco after suffering a concussion the previous week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also suffered a serious blow against the Los Angeles Chargers last week and had to pass neurological tests in the medical tent before he could return to the game.

Olave recently switched helmets, instead opting to wear a Guardian Cap in games.

“I just felt like I swapped my helmet for the best helmet, so the hit I took in the game didn't hurt as much as it did with the other helmet,” Olave said this week. “After changing the helmet, I felt like I could do well without the Guardian cap.”

He said he wore his new helmet against the Chargers and felt he took less impact after wearing a helmet on the shoulder area.

“I was a good man,” Olave said this week. “I know with every big hit they kind of check for concussions and stuff like that, especially when it comes to my history. When I got up I felt fine though, so I knew I could go back in.”