The Dallas Cowboys shut down CeeDee Lamb for the final weeks of the season due to a shoulder injury, and if they’re smart, the New Orleans Saints should take a page out of their book and shut down their top receiver, too. Dallas is out of playoff contention, just like New Orleans, but Chris Olave is practicing unlike Lamb.
Olave was projected as a full participant on Wednesday’s injury report. That was Christmas Day, so there was no practice which meant it was the expectation from the team medical staff. The projection was accurate, and Olave was a full participant when the Saints stepped out for Thursday’s practice. Olave remains on injured reserve.
New Orleans opened Olave’s return window last week, and he began practicing. This feels like the progression to returning to the field. If it isn’t, then it brings up one question. What’s the point of him practicing?
Is this supposed to be a sign of his progress? Darren Rizzi telling media Olave was good enough to play would have sufficed. But there’s something to be said for letting him run routes at practice and get his legs back under him before the season ends. That beats watching his teammates work from the sideline.
Olave suffered two concussions this season, and this is becoming a repeated occurrence for the young player. The last concussion was a scary one. This is a situation that has to be treated delicately.
New Orleans doesn’t have anything to play for as a team, and he’s in a much more comfortable place than other young players. This feels like a time to sit Olave down even if he’s pushing to play.
