Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was discharged from the hospital after undergoing evaluation for concussion, the team announced. He will return to New Orleans with the Saints tonight.
Olave was injured on a high throw from Derek Carr. He was being covered by cornerback Mike Jackson when Panthers safety Xavier Woods came from the other side to deliver a finishing blow against a defenseless receiver.
Woods, one of the most penalized players in the league since 2018, received a penalty for unnecessary roughness. Neither officials nor the officiating office in New York ejected Woods, though he still could be suspended.
It was Woods’ ninth unnecessary roughness penalty of his career. He also had two horse collars and a facemask in his career, with 20 total penalties for 275 yards in his career before today.
The Saints aren’t the same team they were in Week 1 when they destroyed the Panthers 47-10. At halftime Sunday, the Saints lead only 13-10.
The Saints outgained the Panthers 243 to 114 but settled for two red zone field goals on their first two drives.
New Orleans’ only touchdown came on a 7-yard run by tight end Taysom Hill, who also has two receptions for 26 yards.
Derek Carr has completed 9 of 16 passes for 132 yards, and Alvin Kamara has rushed for 93 yards on 15 carries.
The Saints lost receiver Chris Olave to a concussion in the first half on an illegal hit by Panthers safety Xavier Woods. Olave, who also was diagnosed with a concussion in Week 6, was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.
The Panthers scored their only touchdown on a 3-yard throw from Bryce Young to Xavier Legette. Young is 10-of-13 for 77 yards.
They were gifted a field goal in the final seconds when Willie Gay punched Sam Franklin on a punt return. The Panthers started the drive at the New Orleans 28 and Eddy Pineiro kicked a 48-yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining.
Former Saints receiver Michael Thomas saw current Saints receiver Chris Olave suffer a concussion on a high ball thrown by Saints quarterback Derek Carr.
And that prompted Thomas to tee off on Carr.
“Derek Carr for you I been told yall shit sad,” Thomas said initially. “Dude scary and panic and just throw the ball. Get him the f out of here he so ass. . . .
That year his buddy [Davante Adams] went 1st team all pro in 2022 he needed 180 targets just to catch 100 passes. He is ass on my granny.”
There’s more.
“Dude tried to lie and say I was jealous of them making Chris WR1 whole time he can’t even get him a decent ball,” Thomas said. “He need his ass whooped. . . . They fired all them coaches trying to cover his flaws up he still doing the same shit.”
It’s a very real and raw reaction from Thomas about Carr. And it invites speculation regarding whether others agree with Thomas, or disagree.
Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was placed on a backboard and carted off after an illegal hit from Panthers defensive back Xavier Woods.
Olave was being covered by cornerback Mike Jackson on a high throw that sailed over his head with 7:02 remaining in the first quarter. Woods came in and delivered a finishing blow on a defenseless receiver.
Four flags were thrown on the play, but amazingly, Woods, one of the most penalized players in football since the start of the 2018 season, was not ejected by the league office.
Olave did move his feet and his hands as teammates gave him high-fives before he left. He rode to the tunnel with his hands over his face.
The Saints ruled him out immediately with a concussion.
“He has movement in all extremities and is undergoing further evaluation at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center,” the team said in a statement.
Olave was diagnosed with a concussion in Week 6 and was cleared of a concussion during last week’s game after another hard hit to the head. He said last week he was considering wearing a Guardian Cap, but he did not have one on today.
Olave also was diagnosed with a concussion in his rookie season in 2022 in Week 5 and missed the following game. He was ruled out of a Week 12 game against the Falcons last year with a concussion.
It was Woods’ ninth unnecessary roughness penalty of his career with two horse collars and a facemask, too. He had 20 penalties for 275 yards in his career before today.
The Saints lead the Panthers 6-0.
Every week we bring you all the inactives from the 1 p.m. ET games in one post, constantly updated with the latest information.
Before the Commanders held their pregame workout at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, head coach Dan Quinn said that running back Brian Robinson was ready to get rolling with his teammates. Robinson’s roll didn’t take him very far, though.
Robinson’s workout before the game was cut short by the hamstring injury that led him to be listed as questionable. Robinson landed on the inactive list that was released 90 minutes before the kickoff of the Commanders’ game against the Giants as a result.
Robinson ran for 133 yards in a Week Two Washington home win over the Giants, but they’ll need others to lead the way if they’re going to finish off a sweep.
Commanders at Giants
Commanders: RB Brian Robinson, QB Jeff Driskel, S Darrick Forrest, TE Colson Yankoff, LB Dominique Hampton, T Cornelius Lucas
Giants: P Jamie Gillan, CB Tre Hawkins, G Jake Kubas, WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton, DL Jordon Riley, QB Tommy DeVito
Dolphins at Bills
Dolphins: DT Zach Sieler, S Jevon Holland, CB Kader Kohou, TE Julian Hill, RB Jeff Wilson, OL Andrew Meyer, CB Storm Duck
Bills: WR Amari Cooper, CB Christian Benford, FB Reggie Gilliam, OL Will Clapp, LB Nick Morrow, S Mike Edwards, DL Zion Logue
Broncos at Ravens
Broncos: S P.J. Locke, TE Greg Dulcich, CB Damarri Mathis, T Frank Crum, LB Dondrea Tillman, CB Kris Abrams-Draine, QB Zach Wilson
Ravens: RB Rasheen Ali, C Nick Samac, LB Adisa Isaac, LB David Ojabo, DL Brent Urban, CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, S Eddie Jackson
Chargers at Browns
Chargers: CB Kristian Fulton, TE Stone Smartt, WR DJ Chark, OL Brenden Jaimes, DL Justin Eboigbe, OL Jordan McFadden, QB Easton Stick
Browns: QB Bailey Zappe, RB D’Onta Foreman, LB Jordan Hicks, T Germain Ifedi, DT Quinton Jefferson
Saints at Panthers
Saints: QB Spencer Rattler, RB Jamaal Williams, CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB Marshon Lattimore, CB Rico Payton, LB Jaylan Ford, DT John Ridgeway
Panthers: S Jammie Robinson, CB Shemar Bartholomew, LB DJ Johnson, T Ikem Ekwonu, TE Tommy Tremble, TE Feleipe Franks
Raiders at Bengals
Raiders: C Andre James, RB Dylan Laube, CB Sam Webb, S Trey Taylor, DE Janarius Robinson
Bengals: WR Tee Higgins, WR Charlie Jones, WR Jermaine Burton, RB Zack Moss, T Orlando Brown Jr., TE Tanner McLachlan, DT Jay Tufele
Cowboys at Falcons
Cowboys: DE Micah Parsons, QB Trey Lance, RB Ezekiel Elliott, CB Andrew Booth, CB DaRon Bland, DE K.J. Henry, T Matt Waletzko
Falcons: LB Troy Andersen, RB Jase McClellan, LB JD Bertrand, DT Brandon Dorlus, OL Jovaughn Gwyn, G Elijah Wilkinson, T Brandon Parker
Patriots at Titans
Patriots: S Kyle Dugger, WR K.J. Osborn, WR Tyquan Thornton, DT Eric Johnson, QB Joe Milton III
Titans: QB Will Levis, RB Tyjae Spears, CB L’Jarius Sneed, CB Tre Avery, LB Cedric Gray, OL Dillon Radunz, TE David Martin-Robinson
